ITINERARY 


OF 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON 


FROM 


June  15,  1775,  to  December  2},  178}. 


BY 

WILLIAM    S.  BAKER, 

IUTHOR   OF   THE    "  ENGRAVED    PORTRAITS  OF   WASHINGTON,"    "  MEDAI.LIC    PORTRAITS   Of 

WASHINGTON,"    "CHARACTER   PORTRAITS    OF    WASHINGTON,"    "  BIBHOTUKCA 

WASUINGTONIANA,"  ETC.,   ETC. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

J.    B.    L1PP1NCOTT    COMPANY. 
i  892. 


R3 


COPYRIGHT,  1892, 

BY 
WILLIAM  SPOHN  BAKER. 


PRINTED  BY  J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


INTRODUCTORY   NOTE. 


THE  Itinerary  of  General  Washington  during  the  war  for 
independence,  originally  published  in  the  "Pennsylvania 
Magazine  of  History  and  Biography"  (vols.  xiv.,  xv.),  is  now 
brought  together  in  a  single  volume,  with  many  additions. 

As  issued  in  the  Magazine,  it  became  apparent,  after  the 
appearance  of  the  early  portions  of  the  work,  that  the  sub 
ject  admitted  of  a  much  broader  treatment  than  had  been 
intended;  and  that  the  introduction  of  additional  matter, 
covering  as  much  as  possible  the  prominent  events  of  the 
struggle,  would  render  it  more  useful  both  for  reference 
and  as  a  study  of  the  character  of  "Washington,  without  in 
any  way  conflicting  with  the  form  of  an  Itinerary.  This 
plan  was  accordingly  adopted  for  the  subsequent  numbers. 

The  additions,  therefore,  are  principally  limited  to  the 
first  three  years  of  the  record  as  originally  published. 

As  day  by  day  we  follow  "Washington  through  the  pages 
of  the  Itinerary,  we  become  more  and  more  impressed  with 
the  earnestness,  steadfastness,  and  truthfulness  of  his  char 
acter,  and  feel  assured  that  to  his  high  sense  of  duty,  and 
almost  sleepless  vigilance,  we  are  mainly  indebted  for  the 
successful  issue  of  the  battle  for  freedom. 

History  furnishes  no  finer  type  of  manhood,  no  purer  ex 
ample  of  patriotism,  than  our  WASHINGTON  ! 

W.  S.  BAKER. 

PHILADELPHIA,  February  22,  1892. 


M15795 


ITINERARY 


OF 


GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 


THUKSDAT,  JUNE  15. 

At  Philadelphia,  as  a  delegate  to  Congress  from  the  Col 
ony  of  Virginia :  On  this  day  Congress,  in  session  at  the 
State  House,  Resolved,  "  That  a  General  be  appointed  to 
command  all  the  Continental  Forces,  raised  or  to  be  raised 
for  the  defence  of  American  liberty. 

"  That  five  hundred  dollars  per  month  be  allowed  for  the 
pay  and  expences  of  the  General. 

"  The  Congress  then  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  General 
by  ballot,  and  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  Esq.,  was  unanimously 
elected." — Journal  of  Congress. 

The  second  Continental  Congress  met  at  Philadelphia,  May  10, 1775,  and 
it  is  recorded  by  John  Adams  that  "  Colonel  Washington  appeared  every 
day  in  his  uniform,  and  by  his  great  experience  and  abilities  in  military 
matters,  was  of  much  service  to  all."  At  the  session  of  June  15,  however, 
in  consequence  of  Mr.  Adams  having  stated  at  a  previous  meeting  that  it 
was  his  intention  to  propose  for  the  office  of  Commander-in-Chief  a  gentle 
man  from  Virginia,  and  one  of  their  body,  Washington  was  not  present. 
The  nomination  was  made  by  Thomas  Johnson,  a  delegate  from  Maryland. 

FKIDAY,  JUNE  16. 

At  Philadelphia,  in  Congress :  "  The  President  [John 
Hancock]  informed  Col.  Washington  that  the  Congress  had 
yesterday  unanimously  made  choice  of  him  to  be  General 
and  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  American  forces,  and  re 
quested  he  would  accept  of  that  employment ;  to  which  Col. 
Washington  standing  in  his  place  answered. 

2 


2  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1775 

" '  Mr.  President. 

"  '  Though  I  am  truly  sensible  of  the  high  honor  done  me 
in  this  appointment,  yet,  I  feel  great  distress  from  a  con 
sciousness,  that  my  abilities  and  military  experience  may 
not  be  equal  to  the  extensive  and  important  trust :  How 
ever,  as  the  Congress  desire  it,  I  will  enter  upon  the  mo 
mentous  duty,  and  exert  every  power  I  possess  in  their 
service  and  for  support  of  the  glorious  cause.  I  beg  they 
will  accept  my  most  cordial  thanks  for  this  distinguished 
testimony  of  their  approbation. 

" '  BUT,  lest  some  unlucky  event  should  happen  unfavour 
able  to  my  reputation,  I  beg  it  may  be  remembered  by  every 
Gentleman  in  the  room,  that  I  this  day  declare  with  the 
utmost  sincerity,  I  do  not  think  myself  equal  to  the  com 
mand  I  am  honored  with. 

"  '  As  to  pay,  Sir,  I  beg  leave  to  assure  the  Congress,  that 
as  no  pecuniary  consideration  could  have  tempted  me  to 
accept  this  arduous  employment,  at  the  expence  of  my  do 
mestic  ease  and  happiness,  I  do  not  wish  to  make  any 
profit  from  it.  I  will  keep  an  exact  account  of  my  ex- 
pences.  Those  I  doubt  not  they  will  discharge,  and  that 
is  all  I  desire.'  " — Journal  of  Congress. 

SATUKDAY,  JUNE  17. 

At  Philadelphia:  This  day,  Congress  in  session  passed 
the  following  resolution :  "  "Whereas  the  Delegates  of  all 
the  Colonies  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Georgia,  in  Congress  as 
sembled,  have  unanimously  chosen  George  Washington  Esq. 
to  be  General  and  Commander  in  Chief,  of  such  Forces  as 
are  or  shall  be  raised  for  the  maintenance  and  preservation 
of  American  Liberty ;  this  Congress  doth  now  declare,  that 
they  will  maintain  and  assist  him,  and  adhere  to  him  the 
said  George  Washington,  with  their  Lives  and  Fortunes  in 
the  same  Cause." — Journal  of  Congress. 

"  I  can  now  inform  you,  that  the  Congress  have  made  choice  of  the  modest 
and  virtuous,  the  amiable,  generous  and  brave  George  Washington,  Esquire, 


1775]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  3 

to  be  General  of  the  American  army,  and  that  he  is  to  repair,  as  soon  as 
possible,  to  the  camp  before  Boston.  This  appointment  will  have  a  great 
effect  in  cementing  and  securing  the  union  of  these  colonies." — John  Adams 
to  Mrs.  Adams,  June  17. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  18. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  It  has  been  determined  in  Congress, 
that  the  whole  army  raised  for  the  defence  of  the  American 
Cause  shall  be  put  under  my  care  and  that  it  is  necessary 
for  me  to  proceed  immediately  to  Boston  to  take  upon  me 
the  Command  of  it. — You  may  believe  me,  my  dear  Patcy, 
when  I  assure  you,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  that,  so  far 
from  seeking  this  appointment  I  have  used  every  endeavour 
in  my  power  to  avoid  it  not  only  from  my  unwillingness  to 
part  with  you  and  the  Family,  but  a  consciousness  of  its 
being  a  trust  too  great  for  my  capacity  and  that  I  should 
enjoy  more  real  happiness  and  felicity,  in  one  month  with 
you  at  home  than  I  have  the  most  distant  prospect  of  reap 
ing  abroad,  if  my  stay  were  to  be  Seven  times  Seven  years. 
But  as  it  has  been  a  kind  of  destiny  that  has  thrown  me 
upon  this  Service,  I  shall  hope  that  my  undertaking  of  it  is 
designed  to  answer  some  good  purpose." — Washington  to 
Mrs.  Washington,  June  18. 

"  There  is  something  charming  to  me  in  the  conduct  of  Washington.  A 
gentleman  of  one  of  the  first  fortunes  upon  the  continent,  leaving  his  de 
licious  retirement,  his  family  and  friends,  sacrificing  his  ease,  and  hazarding 
all  in  the  cause  of  his  country  !  His  views  are  noble  and  disinterested.  He. 
declared,  when  he  accepted  the  mighty  trust,  that  he  would  lay  before  us  an 
exact  account  of  his  expenses,  and  not  accept  a  shilling  for  pay." — John 
Adams  to  Elbridge  Gerry,  June  18. 

MONDAY,  JUNE  19. 

At  Philadelphia:  Receives  his  commission,  appointing 
him  "  General  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Army  of 
the  United  Colonies,  and  of  all  the  forces  raised,  or  to  be 
raised  by  them." 

"  IN  CONGRESS. — THE  delegates  of  the  United  Colonies  of  New-Hamp 
shire,  Massachusetts  bay,  Khode  Island,  Connecticut,  New-York,  New 


4  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1775 

Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  New  Castle,  Kent  and  Sussex  on  Delaware,  Mary 
land,  Virginia,  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina.* 

"To  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  Esquire. 

"  WE  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence  in  your  patriotism,  conduct 
and  fidelity  Do  by  these  presents  constitute  and  appoint  you  to  be  GENERAL 
AND  COMMANDER  IN  CHIEF  of  the  Army  of  the  United  Colonies  and  of 
all  the  forces  raised  or  to  be  raised  by  them  and  of  all  others  who  shall  vol 
untarily  offer  their  service  and  join  the  said  army  for  the  defence  of  Amer 
ican  Liberty  and  for  repelling  every  hostile  invasion  thereof.  AND  you  are 
hereby  vested  with  full  power  and  authority  to  act  as  you  shall  think  for 
the  good  and  welfare  of  the  service. 

"AND  we  do  hereby  strictly  charge  and  require  all  officers  and  soldiers 
under  your  command  to  be  obedient  to  your  orders  and  diligent  in  the  ex 
ercise  of  their  several  duties. 

"  AND  we  do  also  enjoin  and  require  you  to  be  careful  in  executing  the 
great  trust  reposed  in  you,  by  causing  strict  discipline  and  order  to  be  ob 
served  in  the  army  and  that  the  soldiers  are  duly  exercised  and  provided 
with  all  convenient  necessaries. 

"AND  you  are  to  regulate  your  conduct  in  every  respect  by  the  rules  and 
discipline  of  war  (as  herewith  given  you)  and  punctually  to  observe  and 
follow  such  orders  and  directions  from  time  to  time  as  you  shall  receive  from 
this  or  a  future  Congress  of  the  said  United  Colonies  or  a  committee  of 
Congress  for  that  purpose  appointed. 

"  THIS  COMMISSION  to  continue  in  force  until  revoked  by  this  or  a  future 
Congress. 

"  By  order  of  the  Congress. 
"Dated  Philadelphia  June  19th  1775. 

"  JOHN  HANCOCK,  President. 

"Attest  CHAS.  THOMSON  Seer." 

TUESDAY,  JUNE  20. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  On  Tuesday  morning  [June  20]  the 
three  battalions  of  this  city  and  liberties,  together  with  the 
artillery  company,  a  troop  of  light  horse,  several  companies 
of  light  infantry,  rangers  and  riflemen,  in  the  whole  about 
two  thousand,  marched  out  to  the  Commons,  and,  having 
joined  in  brigade,  were  reviewed  by  General  WASHINGTON, 
who  is  appointed  Commander  in  Chief  of  all  the  ]S"orth 
American  forces  by  the  honorable  Continental  Congress, 
when  they  went  through  the  manual  exercise,  firings  and 

.    *  Georgia  was  not  represented  in  Congress  until  the  13th  of  September. 


1775]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  5 

manoeuvres,  with  great  dexterity  and  exactness." — Pennsyl 
vania  Evening  Post,  June  22, 1775. 

"  I  have  been  called  upon  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  Colonies  to  take 
the  command  of  the  Continental  army ;  an  honor  I  neither  sought  after, 
nor  desired,  as  I  am  thoroughly  convinced,  that  it  requires  greater  abilities 
and  much  more  experience  than  I  am  master  of,  to  conduct  a  business  so 
extensive  in  its  nature,  and  arduous  in  the  execution.  But  the  partiality 
of  Congress,  joined  to  a  political  motive,  really  left  me  without  a  choice ; 
and  I  am  now  commissioned  a  General  and  Commander-in-chief  of  all  the 
forces  now  raised,  or  to  be  raised,  for  the  defence  of  the  United  Colonies. 
That  I  may  discharge  the  trust  to  the  satisfaction  of  my  employers  is  my 
first  wish  ;  that  I  shall  aim  to  do  it,  there  remains  little  doubt.  How  far  I 
may  succeed  is  another  point." —  Washington  to  John  Augustine  Washington, 
June  20. 

THURSDAY,  JUNE  22. 

At  Philadelphia :  Is  entertained  at  a  farewell  supper, 
given  in  his  honor,  at  the  City  Tavern,  at  which  several 
distinguished  citizens  of  Philadelphia  assisted. 

The  City  Tavern  was  erected  in  1773  by  a  voluntary  subscription  of  the 
principal  gentlemen  of  Philadelphia,  for  the  convenience  of  the  public.  It 
stood  on  the  west  side  of  Second  Street,  above  Walnut,  No.  86,  corner  of 
the  present  Gold  Street,  formerly  Bank  Alley,  and  was  subsequently  known 
as  "The  Merchants'  Coffee-House."  "When  first  opened,  in  the  early  part 
of  1774,  with  Daniel  Smith  as  the  landlord,  it  was  considered  the  largest 
and  most  elegant  house  of  its  kind  in  America.  The  site,  in  connection 
with  adjoining  ground  extending  to  "Walnut  Street,  is  now  occupied  by 
"  The  Anthracite  Building,"  erected  about  thirty-five  years  ago. 

FKIDAY,  JUNE  23. 

1  Leaves  Philadelphia:  "Yesterday  morning  [June  23] 
the  Generals  "WASHINGTON  and  LEE  set  off  from  this  city 
[Philadelphia]  to  take  command  of  the  American  army  at 
Massachusetts  Bay.  They  were  accompanied  from  town  by 
the  troop  of  light  horse,  and  by  all  the  officers  of  the  city 
militia  on  horseback,  who  went  no  farther  than  about  five 
miles,  when  they  returned,  but  the  former  continued  with 
them,  and  how  far  they  will  go  is  uncertain." — Pennsylvania 
Evening  Post,  June  24, 1775. 


6  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.          [1775 

Washington  left  Philadelphia  on  horseback,  and  travelled  in  that  man 
ner  all  the  way  to  Cambridge ;  the  first  entry  in  the  account  current  that  he 
rendered  at  the  conclusion  of  the  war  being  as  follows  :  "To  the  purchase 
of  five  Horses  (two  of  which  were  had  on  credit  from  Mr.  James  Mease)  to 
equip  me  for  my  Journey  to  the  Army  at  Cambridge — &  for  the  Service  I 
was  then  going  upon — having  sent  my  Chariot  and  Horses  back  to  Virginia, 
£239 — ."  General  Schuyler,  Thomas  Mifiiin,  and  Joseph  Eeed  were  also 
of  the  party,  which  before  reaching  Trenton  was  met  by  a  courier  bearing 
despatches  to  Congress  concerning  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  The  troop 
of  light  horse  which  acted  as  an  escort  is  now  known  as  the  "  First  Troop 
Philadelphia  City  Cavalry."  It  was  organized  November  17,  1774,  and 
bears  an  honorable  record  for  services  rendered  during  the  war. 

SATUKDAY,  JUNE  24. 

At  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey :  "  General  "Washington, 
with  his  retinue,  is  now  here  [New  Brunswick],  and  pro 
poses  to  be  at  Newark  by  nine  to-morrow  morning.  The 
situation  of  the  men-at-war  at  New  York  (we  are  informed) 
is  such  as  to  make  it  necessary  that  some  precaution  should 
be  taken  in  crossing  Hudson's  river,  and  he  would  take  it 
as  a  favor  if  some  gentleman  of  your  body  would  meet  him 
to-morrow  at  Newark,  as  the  advice  you  may  then  give  him 
will  determine  whether  he  will  continue  his  proposed  route 
or  not." — General  Schuyler  to  the  President  of  the  New  York 
Provincial  Congress,  June  24. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  25. 

At  Newark,  New  Jersey :  Meets  a  committee  appointed 
by  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York  to  attend  him 
to  the  city.  Committee:  John  Sloss  Hobart,  Melancthon 
Smith,  Eichard  Montgomery,  and  Gouverneur  Morris. 
Arrives  at  New  York  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
crossing  the  Hudson  at  Hoboken. 

"  June  25 — This  afternoon  at  four  [?  two]  o'clock,  General  "Washington, 
attended  by  Generals  Lee  and  Schuyler,  and  the  light-horse  of  Philadelphia, 
on  the  way  for  the  American  camp  at  Cambridge,  landed  at  Colonel  Lispen- 
ard's  seat,  about  a  mile  above  New  York  [in  the  vicinity  of  Laight  Street, 
near  Greenwich],  from  whence  they  were  conducted  into  the  city,  by  nine 


1775]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  7 

companies  of  foot,  in  their  uniforms,  and  a  greater  number  of  tne  principal 
inhabitants  of  that  city  than  ever  appeared  on  any  occasion  before." — Riv- 
ington's  Gazetteer,  June  29,  1774. 

MONDAY,  JUNE  26. 

At  New  York :  Receives  and  answers,  at  half-past  two  in 
the  afternoon,  an  address  from  the  New  York  Provincial 
Congress,  and  leaves  for  Kingsbridge. 

"  New  York.  July  3.  1775. — On  Monday  last  [June  26]  General 
WASHINGTON  with  his  suite,  attended  by  the  several  New  York  Military 
Companies,  and  likewise  by  a  Troop  of  Gentlemen  of  the  Philadelphia  Light 
Horse,  commanded  by  Captain  Markoe,  and  a  number  of  the  inhabitants 
of  this  city,  set  out  for  the  Provincial  Camp  at  Cambridge,  near  Boston. 
The  General  rested  that  night  at  Kingsbridge  [fourteen  miles  from  the 
city],  and  the  next  morning  proceeded  on  his  journey ;  The  Troop  returned 
to  this  city  the  next  evening,  and  departed  hence  for  Philadelphia,  the 
Thursday  following." — Pennsylvania  Journal,  July  5,  1775. 

TUESDAY,  JUNE  27. 

Leaves  Kingsbridge :  General  Schuyler,  who  had  been 
commissioned  to  "  take  command  of  all  the  troops  destined 
for  the  New  York  department,"  accompanied  him  as  far  as 
New  Rochelle,  Westchester  County,  where  they  met  and 
conferred  with  General  Wooster. 

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  28. 

At  New  Haven,  Connecticut:  Reviews  a  military  com 
pany  of  students  of  Yale  College,  and  "  lodges  at  the  house 
of  the  late  Isaac  Beers." 

"  New  Haven,  July  5,  1775. — Last  Wednesday  [June  28],  his  excellency 
General  Washington,  Major  General  Lee,  Major  Thomas  Mifflin,  General 
Washington's  aid-de-camp,  and  Samuel  Griffin,  Esq.  General  Lee's  aid-de 
camp,  arrived  in  town,  and  early  next  morning  they  set  out  for  the  Pro 
vincial  Camp,  near  Boston,  attended  by  great  numbers  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town.  They  were  escorted  out  of  town  by  two  companies  dressed  in 
their  uniform,  and  by  a  company  of  young  gentlemen  belonging  to  the 
Seminary  in  this  place,  who  made  a  handsome  appearance,  and  whose  ex- 
pertness  in  the  military  exercises  gained  the  approbation  of  the  Generals." 
— Connecticut  Historical  Collections. 


8  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1775 

THUKSDAY,  JUNE  29. 

At  "Wethersfield,  Connecticut :  "  Philadelphia,  June  22, 
1775.  This  will  be  handed  you  by  his  Excellency,  General 
"Washington,  in  company  with  General  Lee,  and  retinue. 
Should  they  lodge  a  night  in  Wethersfield,  you  will  accom 
modate  their  horses,  servants,  &c.,  in  the  best  manner  at  the 
tavern,  and  their  retinue  will  likely  go  on  to  Hartford." — 
Silas  Deane  to  Mrs.  Deane. 

The  house  occupied  by  Silas  Deane  at  Wethersfield,  and  at  which,  in  all 
probability,  Washington  stayed  on  the  night  of  June  29,  was  next  south  of 
the  "Webb  House,"  the  place  of  conference  between  Washington  and 
Kochambeau,  May  22,  1781.  The  house,  which  is  still  standing,  was  after 
wards  known  as  the  residence  of  Stephen  Chester. 

FKIDAY,  JUNE  30. 

At  Springfield,  Massachusetts :  Meets  a  committee  from 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts  Bay, — Dr.  Ben 
jamin  Church  and  Moses  Gill, — who  had  provided  escorts 
for  the  remainder  of  the  journey,  through  Brookfield, 
Worcester  and  Marlborough  to  "Watertown. 

SUNDAY,  JULY  2. 

At  Watertown,  Massachusetts :  Arrives  in  the  morning, 
attended  by  the  committee  and  a  train  of  other  gentlemen, 
under  escort  of  a  company  of  horse  from  Marlborough,  and 
receives  an  address  from  the  Provincial  Congress,  then  in 
session  at  Watertown,  which  he  answers  by  letter  of  July 
4.  Leaves  in  the  afternoon,  for  Cambridge,  three  miles 
distant,  and  arrives  at  two  o'clock. 

MONDAY,  JULY  3. 

At  Cambridge,  Massachusetts :  Takes  command  of  the 
army  on  Cambridge  Common,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  afterwards  visits  the  several  posts  occupied  by  the 
American  troops. 

The  first  house  occupied  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  at  Cambridge,  as 
head-quarters,  was  known  as  the  "President's  House,"  built  by  Harvard 


1775]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  9 

College  in  1726,  for  the  use  of  its  presidents.  The  house  of  John  Vassall,  a 
fugitive  royalist,  known  later  as  the  Craigie  house,  and  still  later  as  the 
residence  of  Henry  W.  Longfellow,  was  made  head-quarters  about  the 
middle  of  July.  This  house,  which  is  still  owned  and  occupied  by  the 
Longfellow  family,  Washington  retained  as  his  quarters  until  he  left  Cam 
bridge  for  New  York,  April  4,  1776. 

TUESDAY,  JULY  4. 

At  Cambridge :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Continental  Con 
gress,  having  now  taken  all  the  Troops  of  the  several  Col 
onies,  which  have  been  raised,  or  which  may  be  hereafter 
raised  for  the  support  and  defence  of  the  Liberties  of  Amer 
ica  ;  into  their  Pay  and  Service :  They  are  now  the  Troops 
of  the  United  Provinces  of  North  America ;  and  it  is  hoped 
that  all  Distinction  of  Colonies  will  be  laid  aside ;  so  that 
one  and  the  same  spirit  may  animate  the  whole,  and  the 
only  Contest  be,  who  shall  render,  on  this  great  and  trying 
occasion,  the  most  essential  Service  to  the  great  and  common 
cause  in  which  we  are  all  engaged." 

The  army  in  front  of  Boston  at  this  time,  composed  of  troops  from  Mas 
sachusetts,  Ehode  Island,  New  Hampshire,  and  Connecticut,  brought  to 
gether  after  the  battle  of  Concord  and  Lexington,  was  estimated  to  be  about 
fourteen  thousand  five  hundred  effective  men.  Intrenchments  had  been 
thrown  up  on  Winter  and  Prospect  Hills,  on  the  left,  and  at  Eoxbury  on 
the  right,  with  works  at  intermediate  points.  The  college  buildings  and 
houses  in  Cambridge  were  also  occupied  by  the  troops. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  5. 

At  Roxbury:  "Yesterday  [July  5],  as  I  was  going  to 
Cambridge,  I  met  the  generals  [Washington  and  Lee],  who 
begged  me  to  return  to  Eoxbury  again,  which  I  did.  When 
they  had  viewed  the  works,  they  expressed  the  greatest 
pleasure  and  surprise  at  their  situation  and  apparent  utility, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  plan,  which  did  not  escape  their 
praise." — Henry  Knox  to  Mrs.  Knox,  July  6. 

Henry  Knox,  who  commenced  his  military  career  as  a  volunteer  aid  to 
General  Ward  at  Bunker  Hill,  was  at  this  time  serving  as  an  engineer. 
"The  chief  work  constructed  by  him  was  the  strong  redoubt  crowning  the 
hill  in  Koxbury,  known  as  Koxbury  Fort,  the  site  of  which  is  now  [1873] 


10  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1775 

covered  by  the  Cochituate  Stand  Pipe."*  He  was  commissioned  colonel 
of  the  artillery  regiment,  17  November,  1775;  brigadier-general,  27  Decem 
ber,  1776,  and  major-general,  22  March,  1782,  dating  from  15  November, 
1781. 

.• 
THURSDAY,  JULY  6. 

At  Cambridge :  Visits  all  the  American  posts,  and  recon 
noitres  the  enemy's  works. 

"  July  1775. — To  the  Expences  of  myself  &  party  reconnoitr  the  Sea 
Coast  East  of  Boston  Harbor.  .  £18.  13.  2." — Washington's  Accounts. 

SUNDAY,  JULY  9. 

At  Cambridge  :  A  council  of  war,  in  which  it  was  unani 
mously  determined  to  defend  the  posts  as  occupied,  and 
that  measures  ought  to  be  immediately  taken  to  increase 
the  army  by  recruits. 

"  General  Washington  fills  his  place  with  vast  ease  and  dignity,  and  dis 
penses  happiness  around  him.  General  Lee  will  become  very  popular  soon. 
I  am  obliged  to  go  to  Cambridge  to  wait  on  General  Washington,  and 
promised  to  be  there  by  seven  o'clock.  I  am  now  half  past  that  time."— 
Henry  Knox  to  Mrs.  Knox,  July  9. 

MONDAY,  JULY  10. 

At  Cambridge :  "  Our  enemies  have  attempted  nothing 
against  us  since  my  arrival  here.  They  are  strongly  posted 
on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  are  still  busy  in  throwing  up  addi 
tional  works.  We  have  thrown  up  several  lines  and  re 
doubts  between  Mystic  River  and  Dorchester  Point,  to  pre 
vent  their  making  way  into  the  country,  and  in  a  few  days 
we  shall  be  well  prepared  to  receive  them  in  case  a  sortie  is 
attempted." —  Washington  to  General  Sehuyler. 

"  Our  lines  on  Winter  and  Prospect  Hills,  and  those  of  the  enemy  on 
Bunker's  Hill  are  in  full  view  of  each  other,  a  mile  distant,  our  advance 
guards  much  nearer,  and  the  sentries  almost  near  enough  to  converse ;  at 
Roxbury  and  Boston  Neck  it  is  the  same.  Between  these,  we  are  obliged 
to  guard  several  of  the  places  at  which  the  enemy  may  land." — Washington 
to  Richard  Henry  Lee,  July  10. 

*  Life  and  Correspondence  of  Henry  Knox.    By  Francis  S.  Drake,  p.  18. 


1775]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  11 

THURSDAY,  JULY  13. 

At  Roxbury :  "  July  13th. — A  heavy  cannonade  from  the 
British,  at  the  American  workmen — but  no  damage  done. 
Gen.  Washington  visited  the  camp." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

FRIDAY,  JULY  14. 

At  Cambridge :  Orderly  Book. — "  It  is  recommended  both 
to  Officers  and  Men  to  make  themselves  acquainted  with 
the  persons  of  all  the  Officers  in  General  Command,  and  in 
the  mean  time,  to  prevent  mistakes :  The  General  Officers 
and  their  Aids-de-Camp  will  be  distinguished  in  the  follow 
ing  manner. 

"  The  Commander-in-Chief  by  a  light  blue  Ribband,  worn 
across  his  breast,  between  his  Coat  and  "Waistcoat. 

"  The  Majors  and  Brigadiers  General  by  a  Pink  Ribband 
worn  in  the  like  manner. 

"  The  Aids-de-Camp  by  a  green  ribband." 

"His  Excellency,  General  Washington,  has  arrived  amongst  us,  univer 
sally  admired.  Joy  was  visible  in  every  countenance,  and  it  seemed  as  if 
the  spirit  of  conquest  breathed  through  the  whole  army.  I  hope  we  shall 
be  taught,  to  copy  his  example,  and  to  prefer  the  love  of  liberty,  in  this 
time  of  public  danger  to  all  the  soft  pleasures  of  domestic  life,  and  support 
ourselves  with  manly  fortitude  amidst  all  the  dangers  and  hardships  that 
attend  a  state  of  war.  And  I  doubt  not,  under  the  General's  wise  direction, 
we  shall  establish  such  excellent  order  and  strictness  of  discipline  as  to  in 
vite  victory  to  attend  him  wherever  he  goes." — General  Greene  to  Samuel 
Ward,  July  14. 

SATURDAY,  JULY  15. 

At  Cambridge:  Present  at  the  reading,  by  President 
Langdon  of  Harvard  College,  of  the  Declaration  of  Con 
gress  (July  6),  setting  forth  the  causes  and  necessity  of  the 
United  Colonies  taking  up  arms. 

"  Yesterday  morning  [July  18],  according  to  orders  issued  the  day  before 
by  Major-General  Putnam,  all  the  continental  troops  under  his  immediate 
command  assembled  on  Prospect  Hill,  when  the  declaration  of  the  Conti 
nental  Congress  was  read,  after  which,  an  animated  and  pathetic  address  to 
the  army  was  made  by  the  Kev.  Mr.  Leonard,  chaplain  to  General  Putnam's 


12  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1775 

regiment,  and  succeeded  by  a  pertinent  prayer ;  when  General  Putnam  gave 
the  signal,  and  the  whole  army  shouted  their  loud  amen  by  three  cheers ; 
immediately  upon  which,  a  cannon  was  fired  from  the  fort,  and  the  standard 
lately  sent  to  General  Putnam  was  exhibited  flourishing  in  the  air,  bearing 
on  one  side  this  motto — 'An  Appeal  to  Heaven  I'  and  on  the  other  side, — 
'  Qui  Transtulit  Sustinetl'  The  whole  was  conducted  with  the  utmost 
decency,  good  order,  and  regularity,  and  to  the  universal  acceptance  of  all 
present.  And  the  Philistines  on  Bunker's  Hill  heard  the  shout  of  the 
Israelites,  and  being  very  fearful,  paraded  themselves  in  battle  array." — 
Essex  Gazette. 

THURSDAY,  JULY  20. 

At  Cambridge :  A  day  of  public  humiliation,  fasting,  and 
prayer,  recommended  by  Congress,  June  12. 

"  July  20,  1775. — I  have  been  much  gratified  this  day  with  a  view  of 
General  Washington.  His  Excellency  was  on  horseback  in  company  with 
several  military  gentlemen.  It  was  not  difficult  to  distinguish  him  from  all 
others ;  his  personal  appearance  is  truly  noble  and  majestic  ;  being  tall  and 
well  proportioned.  His  dress  is  a  blue  coat  with  buff  colored  facings,  a  rich 
epaulette  on  each  shoulder,  buff  under  dress,  and  an  elegant  small  sword; 
a  black  cockade  in  his  hat." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

SATURDAY,  JULY  22. 

At  Cambridge :  By  general  orders  of  this  day,  the  army 
was  distributed  into  three  grand  divisions.  One,  forming 
the  right  wing,  was  stationed  on  the  heights  of  Roxbury ; 
it  was  commanded  by  Major-General  Ward.  Another,  form 
ing  the  left  wing,  under  Major-General  Lee,  was  stationed 
on  Winter  and  Prospect  Hills;  while  the  centre,  under 
Major-General  Putnam,  was  stationed  at  Cambridge. 

THURSDAY,  JULY  27. 

At  Cambridge :  "  The  enemys  force,  including  marines, 
Tories,  &c  are  computed,  from  the  best  accounts  I  can  get, 
at  about  twelve  thousand  men ;  ours,  including  sick  absent 
&c.,  at  about  sixteen  thousand;  but  then  we  have  a  semi 
circle  of  eight  or  nine  miles  to  guard  to  every  part  of  which 
we  are  obliged  to  be  equally  attentive ;  whilst  they,  situated 
as  it  were  in  the  centre  of  the  semicircle,  can  bend  their 
whole  force  (having  the  entire  command  of  the  water), 


1775]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  13 

against  any  one  part  of  it  with  equal  facility.  This  renders 
our  situation  not  very  agreeable,  though  necessary.  How 
ever,  by  incessant  labor  (Sundays  not  excepted),  we  are  in 
a  much  better  posture  of  defence  now,  than  when  I  first 
came." — Washington  to  John  Augustine  Washington. 

"  It  would  be  far  beyond  the  compass  of  a  letter,  for  me  to  describe  the 
situation  of  things  here  on  my  arrival.  Perhaps  you  will  only  be  able  to 
judge  of  it  from  my  assuring  you,  that  mine  must  be  a  portrait  at  full 
length  of  what  you  have  had  a  miniature.  Confusion  and  discord  reigned 
in  every  department,  which,  in  a  little  time,  must  have  ended  either  in  the 
separation  of  the  army,  or  fatal  contests  with  one  another.  The  better 
genius  of  America  has  prevailed,  and  most  happily  the  ministerial  troops 
have  not  availed  themselves  of  their  advantages,  till  I  trust  the  opportunity 
is  in  a  great  measure  past  over." — Washington  to  General  Schuyler,  July  28. 

FKIDAY,  JULY  28. 

At  Cambridge :  "  Our  enemy  continues  strongly  posted 
about  a  mile  from  us,  both  at  Bunker's  Hill  and  Roxbury, 
but  we  are  not  able  to  get  any  information  of  their  future 
intentions.  Part  of  the  riflemen  are  come  in,  and  the  rest 
daily  expected." — Washington  to  General  Schuyler. 

The  Continental  Congress  resolved,  on  the  14th  of  June,  that  six  com 
panies  of  expert  riflemen  should  be  raised  in  Pennsylvania,  two  in  Maryland 
and  two  in  Virginia.  On  the  22d  it  was  again  resolved  that  two  more  com 
panies  should  be  raised  in  Pennsylvania,  and  that  the  eight  together  should 
make  a  battalion.  The  twelve  companies  were  all  filled  with  surprising 
celerity.  One  company  arrived  in  Cambridge  on  the  25th  of  July,  and  eight 
others  before  the  14th  of  August,  so  that  within  two  months  after  orders 
had  gone  out,  the  men  had  been  enlisted  and  equipped,  and  the  whole  had 
marched  from  four  to  six  hundred  miles  to  camp.  Captain  Daniel  Mor 
gan,  so  much  celebrated  during  the  war,  commanded  one  of  these  companies. 
He  marched  his  men  from  Frederick  County,  in  Virginia,  nearly  six  hun 
dred  miles,  in  three  weeks.  These  riflemen  were  enlisted  for  one  year,  and 
were  the  first  troops  ordered  to  be  raised  by  the  Continental  Congress.  The 
Pennsylvania  battalion  was  commanded  by  Colonel  William  Thompson. 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  3. 

At  Cambridge :  A  council  of  war  held  to  take  into  con 
sideration  the  discovery  of  the  alarming  fact,  that  the  whole 


14  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1775 

stock  of  powder  in   camp,  was   only  nine  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  pounds. 

"  August  5,  1775. — We  had  a  general  council  the  day  before  yesterday, 
and,  to  our  great  surprise,  discovered  that  we  had  not  powder  enough  to 
furnish  half  a  pound  a  man,  exclusive  of  what  the  people  have  in  their 
horns  and  cartridge-boxes.  The  General  [Washington]  was  so  struck  that 
he  did  not  utter  a  word  for  half  an  hour.  Every  one  else  was  also  aston 
ished." — Sullivan  to  the  New  Hampshire  Committee  of  Safety. 

FKIDAY,  AUGUST  4. 

At  Cambridge :  "  I  am  now,  in  strict  confidence,  to  ac 
quaint  you,  that  our  necessities  in  the  article  of  powder  and 
lead  are  so  great,  as  to  require  an  immediate  supply.  I 
must  earnestly  entreat,  that  you  will  fall  upon  some  measure 
to  forward  every  pound  of  each  in  your  colony,  that  can 
possibly  be  spared.  .  .  No  quantity,  however  small,  is  be 
neath  notice,  and,  should  any  arrive,  I  beg  it  may  be  for 
warded  as  soon  as  possible." —  Washington  to  Governor  Cooke, 
of  Rhode  Island. 

"  When  our  Army  lay  before  Boston  in  1775,  our  Powder  was  so  nearly 
expended,  that  General  Washington  told  me  that  he  had  not  more  than 
Eight  rounds  a  Man,  altho'  he  had  then  near  14  miles  of  Line  to  guard,  and 
that  he  dare  not  fire  an  Evening  or  Morning  Gun.  In  this  situation  one  of 
the  Committee  of  Safety  for  Massachusetts,  who  was  privy  to  the  whole 
secret,  deserted  and  went  over  to  General  Gage,  and  discovered  our  poverty 
to  him.  The  fact  was  so  incredible,  that  Gen1  Gage  treated  it  as  a  stratagem 
of  war,  and  the  informant  as  a  Spy,  or  coming  with  the  express  purpose  of 
deceiving  him  &  drawing  his  Army  into  a  Snare,  by  which  means  we  were 
saved  from  having  our  Quarters  beaten  up.  I  was  the  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  at  Elizabeth  Town  [New  Jersey],  and  had  about  Six 
or  Seven  quarter  Casks  of  Powder,  which  on  urgent  application  from  Gen. 
Washington,  were  sent  to  Boston,  with  what  could  be  spared  from  New 
York."— MS.  of  Elias  Boudinot. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  8. 

At  Cambridge :  "  I  was  yesterday  [August  8]  at  Cam 
bridge.  Generals  Washington  and  Lee  inquired  after  you. 
I  dined  at  General  "VV's." — Henry  Knox  to  Mrs.  Knox, 
August  9. 


1775]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  15 

<'  Cambridge,  August  9,  1775. — We  waited  on  General  Washington,  -who 
I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  is  much  beloved  and  admired  for  his  polite 
condescention  and  noble  deportment.  His  appointment  to  the  Chief  Com 
mand  has  the  general  suffrage  of  all  ranks  of  people  here,  which  I  think 
is  no  bad  omen."  —  Letter  from  a  Philadelphian,  Pennsylvania  Gazette, 
August  23. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  15. 

At  Cambridge :  "  I  am  glad  to  relieve  you  from  your 
anxiety  respecting  troops  being  sent  from  Boston  to  Quebec. 
These  reports,  I  apprehend,  took  their  rise  from  a  fleet 
being  fitted  out  about  fourteen  days  ago  to  plunder  the 
islands  in  the  Sound  of  their  live  stock;  an  expedition, 
which  they  have  executed  with  some  success,  and  are  just 
returning.  .  .  To-morrow  I  expect  a  supply  of  powder  from 
Philadelphia,*  which  will  be  a  most  seasonable  relief  in  our 
present  necessity." — Washington  to  General  Schuyler. 

In  consequence  of  the  resolve  of  Congress  (June  27),  General  Schuyler 
was  at  this  time  making  preparations  to  advance  into  Canada  from  Ticon- 
deroga,  and  take  possession  of  Fort  St.  Johns  and  Montreal.  But  falling 
seriously  ill,  on  the  15th  of  September,  when  on  the  point  of  investing  St. 
Johns,  he  was  forced  to  transfer  the  command  to  General  Richard  Mont 
gomery,  and  return  to  Albany.  He,  however,  continued  his  exertions  in 
raising  troops,  and  forwarding  supplies  to  the  army. 

SUNDAY,  AUGUST  20. 

At  Cambridge :  "  The  design  of  this  express  is  to  com 
municate  to  you  a  plan  of  an  expedition,  which  has  engaged 
my  thoughts  for  several  days.  It  is  to  penetrate  into  Canada, 
by  wTay  of  Kennebec  River,  and  so  to  Quebec  by  a  route 
ninety  miles  below  Montreal.  I  can  very  well  spare  a  de 
tachment  for  this  purpose  of  one  thousand,  or  twelve  hun 
dred  men,  and  the  land-carriage  by  the  route  proposed  is 
too  inconsiderable  to  make  an  objection." — WashingtoJi  to 
General  Schwjler. 

The  detachment  to  penetrate  into  Canada  was  placed  under  the  command 

*  "  August  17th. — Six  or  seven  tons  of  powder  arrived  from  the  south 
ward." — Heath's  Memoirs. 


16  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1775 

of  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold,  with  instructions  (September  14)  to  use  all 
possible  expedition,  as  the  winter  season  was  advancing.  It  was  composed 
of  ten  companies  of  musketeers  from  New  England  and  three  companies  of 
riflemen  from  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  in  all  eleven  hundred  men,  the 
riflemen  being  commanded  by  Captain  Daniel  Morgan.  On  the  morning  of 
November  14,  the  little  army,  which,  in  consequence  of  the  frightful  suffer- 
ings  of  the  men,  had  dwindled  to  seven  hundred  and  fifty  (two  hundred 
under  Colonel  Enos  having  returned  to  avoid  starvation),  climbed  the  heights 
of  Abraham ;  Arnold,  however,  finding  it  utterly  impossible  to  attack  the 
city,  retreated  to  Point  aux  Trembles,  twenty  miles  above  Quebec,  to  await 
the  approach  of  the  troops  under  General  Montgomery,  who,  after  capturing 
Forts  Chambly  and  St.  Johns,  had  taken  possession  of  Montreal,  November 
13.  The  junction  was  made  December  1,  and  the  combined  forces,  amount 
ing  only  to  nine  hundred  men,  arrived  in  sight  of  Quebec  on  the  5th.  In 
the  unsuccessful  assault  of  December  31,  in  which  General  Montgomery  was 
slain,  Arnold  received  a  wound  in  the  leg. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  29. 

At  Cambridge :  "  We  have  only  184  Barls.  of  powder  in 
all  (including  the  late  supply  from  Philadelphia),  wch  is  not 
sufficient  to  give  25  muskets  cartridges  to  each  man,  and 
scarcely  to  serve  the  artillery  in  any  brisk  action  one  single 
day." —  Washington  to  Richard  Henry  Lee. 

"  The  word  Powder  in  a  letter,  sets  us  all  a  tiptoe,  we  have  been  in  a 
terrible  situation,  occasioned  by  a  mistake  in  a  return ;  we  reckoned  upon 
three  hundred  quarter  casks  and  had  but  thirty-two  barrels — not  above  nine 
cartridges  to  a  man  to  the  whole  army,  but  the  late  supply  from  Philadel 
phia  has  relieved  us.  All  our  heavy  artillery  was  useless,  and  even  now  we 
are  compelled  to  a  very  severe  economy." — Joseph  Reed  to  Mr.  Bradford, 
August  24. 

THUKSDAY,  AUGUST  81. 

At  Cambridge :  "  Last  Saturday  night  [August  26]  we 
took  possession  of  a  hill  [Plowed  Hill,  Mount  Benedict], 
considerably  advanced  beyond  our  former  lines;  which 
brought  on  a  very  heavy  cannonade  from  Bunker's  Hill, 
and  afterwards  a  bombardment,  which  has  been  since  kept 
up  with  little  spirit  on  their  part,  or  damage  on  ours." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  August  26th. — The  Americans  broke  ground  on  Plowed  Hill,  in  front 
of  Bunker's  Hill,  without  molestation." — Heath1  s  Memoirs. 


1775]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  17 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11. 

At  Cambridge ;  A  council  of  war,  held  to  consider  whether 
it  was  expedient  to  make  an  attack  upon  the  troops  at  Bos 
ton  by  means  of  boats,  in  co-operation  with  an  attempt  upon 
their  lines  at  Roxbury.  It  was  unanimously  agreed,  that 
"  it  was  not  expedient  to  make  the  attempt  at  present,  at 
least" 

In  communicating  this  decision  to  Congress,  "Washington  wrote :  "  I 
cannot  say  that  I  have  wholly  laid  it  [the  attack]  aside ;  but  new  events 
may  occasion  new  measures.  Of  this  I  hope  the  honorable  Congress  can 
need  no  assurance,  that  there  is  not  a  man  in  America,  who  more  earnestly 
wishes  such  a  termination  of  the  campaign,  as  to  make  the  army  no  longer 
necessary." 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18. 

At  Cambridge:  "Sep.  18.  To  the  Exps  of  myself  and 
Party  in  reconnoitring  the  South  &  West  Shore  of  Boston 
Harbor.  .  £16.  6.  4." — Washington's  Accounts. 

"  Oct.  2. — To  Expens.  at  Mystick.  .  £2.  6.  4." — Washington's  Accounts. 
TUESDAY,  OCTOBER  3. 

At  Cambridge :  A  council  of  war,  held  on  this  and  the 
following  day,  to  consider  the  treachery  of  Dr.  Benjamin 
Church,  director-general  of  the  hospital. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Church,  who  had  been  a  prominent  patriot,  was  discovered 
in  an  attempt  to  hold  a  correspondence  with  the  enemy.  The  matter,  after 
being  considered  in  council,  was  referred  to  Congress,  who,  on  November  6, 
directed  that  he  should  be  closely  confined  in  a  jail  in  Connecticut.  He  was 
imprisoned  at  Norwich,  but  was  released  in  May,  1776,  on  account  of  de 
clining  health,  and  afterwards  obtained  permission  from  the  Provincial 
Congress  of  Massachusetts,  in  whose  charge  he  was,  to  visit  the  West 
Indies ;  the  vessel  in  which  he  sailed  was  never  heard  of.  Dr.  Church  was 
the  first  traitor  to  the  Revolutionary  cause. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  4. 

At  Cambridge :  "  General  Gage  is  recalled  from  Boston, 

2 

1 


18  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1775 

and  sails  to-morrow;  he  is  succeeded  by  General  Howe. 
We  have  had  no  material  occurrences  since  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  writing  to  you  last.  Our  principal  employment 
now  is  preparing  for  winter,  as  there  seems  to  be  no  proba 
bility  of  an  accommodation,  or  any  such  decision  as  to  make 
the  present  army  less  necessary." — Washington  to  General 
Schuyler. 

General  Gage  sailed  for  England  on  October  10;  he  did  not  return  to 
America. 

THUKSDAY,  OCTOBEK  5. 

At  Cambridge :  "  The  enemy  in  Boston  and  on  the 
heights  at  Charlestown  (two  peninsulas  surrounded  in  a 
manner  by  ships  of  war  and  floating  batteries)  are  so  strongly 
fortified  as  to  render  it  almost  impossible  to  force  their  lines, 
which  are  thrown  up  at  the  head  of  each  neck;  without 
great  slaughter  on  our  side,  or  cowardice  on  theirs,  it  is 
absolutely  so.  We  therefore  can  do  no  more,  than  keep 
them  besieged,  which  they  are,  to  all  intents  and  purposes, 
as  close  as  any  troops  on  earth  can  be,  that  have  an  opening 
to  the  sea." — Washington  to  Robert  Carter  Nicholas. 

"  Oct.  6. — To  Expens.  of  myself  &  Party  visitg  the  shores  about  Chelsea. 
.  £8.  6.  6." — Washington's  Accounts. 

PKIDAY,  OCTOBEK  13. 

At  Cambridge :  "  Since  finishing  our  lines  of  defence,  we, 
as  well  as  the  enemy,  have  been  busily  employed  in  putting 
our  men  under  proper  cover  for  the  winter.  Our  advanced 
works,  and  theirs,  are  within  musket-shot  of  each  other. 
We  are  obliged  to  submit  to  an  almost  daily  cannonade 
without  returning  a  shot,  from  our  scarcity  of  powder, 
which  we  are  necessitated  to  keep  for  closer  work  than 
cannon-distance,  whenever  the  red-coat  gentry  please  to 
step  out  of  their  intrenchments." —  Washington  to  John  Au 
gustine  Washington. 


1775]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  19 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBEK  18. 

At  Cambridge  :  A  council  of  war  held  to  consider  an  in 
timation  from  Congress,  that  an  attack  upon  Boston,  if 
practicable,  was  much  desired.  It  was  decided  to  be  im 
practicable. 

MONDAY,  OCTOBER  23. 

At  Cambridge :  In  conference,  on  this  and  the  following 
day,  with  a  committee  of  Congress,  Benjamin  Franklin, 
Thomas  Lynch,  and  Benjamin  Harrison. 

The  committee  of  Congress,  appointed  to  consult  with  other  committees,  in 
relation  to  a  new  organization  of  the  army,  arrived  at  Cambridge  October 
15.  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,  and  New  Hampshire  were 
represented  in  the  conference,  which  continued  several  days  (from  the  18th 
to  the  22d),  and  embraced  all  the  points  of  the  proposed  new  army.  The 
conference  with  Washington  on  the  23d  and  24th  was  on  sundry  matters 
upon  which  no  order  had  been  made  by  Congress. 

TUESDAY,  OCTOBEK  24. 

At  Cambridge :  "  My  conjecture  of  the  destination  of  the 
late  squadron  from  Boston,  in  my  last,  has  been  unhappily 
verified  by  an  outrage,  exceeding  in  barbarity  and  cruelty 
every  hostile  act  practised  among  civilized  nations.  I  have 
enclosed  the  account  given  me  by  Mr.  [Pearson]  Jones,  a 
gentleman  of  the  town  of  Falmouth,  of  the  destruction  of 
that  increasing  and  flourishing  village." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

British  cruisers  kept  the  New  England  coast,  from  Falmouth  to  New 
London,  in  a  state  of  continual  alarm.  Lieutenant  Mowatt,  commander  of 
a  British  brig,  made  a  descent  upon  Gloucester,  Mass.,  August  9,  and  at 
tempted  to  land.  He  was  repulsed,  after  he  had  thrown  several  bombs  into 
the  town  with  serious  effect.  On  September  30,  Stonington,  Connecticut, 
was  bombarded ;  two  men  were  killed,  and  the  houses  were  much  shattered. 
In  October,  Mowatt  was  sent  to  Falmouth  (now  Portland),  Maine.  On  the 
refusal  of  the  inhabitants  to  give  up  their  arms,  and  after  allowing  two 
hours  for  the  removal  of  the  women  and  children,  he  bombarded  the  town 
on  the  18th.  One  hundred  and  thirty-nine  houses,  and  two  hundred  and 
seventy-eight  stores  and  other  buildings  were  destroyed ;  but  the  courageous 
inhabitants  maintained  their  ground,  and  defeated  his  attempt  to  land. 


20  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1775 

THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  26. 

At  Cambridge :  "  Colonel  Allen's  misfortune  will,  I  hope, 
teach  a  lesson  of  prudence  and  subordination  to  others,  who 
may  be  too  ambitious  to  outshine  their  general  officers,  and 
regardless  of  order  and  duty,  rush  into  enterprises,  which 
have  unfavorable  effects  on  the  public,  and  are  destructive 
to  themselves." —  Washington  to  General  Schuyler. 

Ethan  Allen,  having  been  sent  with  an  escort  of  thirty  men  to  beat  up 
recruits  among  the  Canadians,  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence,  without  the  con 
sent  or  knowledge  of  General  Montgomery,  on  the  night  of  the  24th  of 
September,  to  attack  Montreal.  He  was  defeated,  taken  prisoner,  and  put  in 
irons  by  General  Prescott,  the  commandant,  and  sent  to  Quebec,  and  after 
wards  to  England ;  from  thence  he  was  sent  to  Halifax,  and  later  to  New 
York,  where,  May  6,  1778,  he  was  exchanged  for  Colonel  Campbell. 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  29. 

At  Cambridge:  "Your  favor  of  the  25th  instant  came 
safely  to  hand.  Captain  Whipple's  voyage  has  been  un 
fortunate,  but  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  command  success, 
though  it  is  always  our  duty  to  deserve  it." — Washington  to 
Governor  Cooke,  of  Ehode  Island. 

Captain  Abraham  "Whipple,  having  been  ordered  by  Governor  Cooke,  at 
the  suggestion  of  "Washington  (letter  of  August  4),  to  proceed  to  Bermuda 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  a  considerable  magazine  of  powder  on  that 
island,  set  sail  from  Providence  in  an  armed  vessel  fitted  out  by  Rhode 
Island.  He  put  in  at  the  west  end  of  the  island,  but,  finding  that  the  powder, 
amounting  to  one  hundred  barrels,  had  been  removed  by  a  vessel  supposed 
to  be  from  Philadelphia,  and  another  from  South  Carolina,  returned  to 
Providence. 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  5. 

At  Cambridge .  "  Finding  the  minsterial  troops  resolved 
to  keep  themselves  close  within  their  lines,  and  that  it  was 
judged  impracticable  to  get  at  them,  I  have  fitted  out  six 
armed  vessels,  with  the  design  to  pick  up  some  of  their 
store-ships  and  transports.  The  rest  of  our  men  are  busily 
employed  in  erecting  barracks." — Washington  to  General 
Schuyler. 


1775]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  21 

Quite  early  in  the  struggle  the  necessity  of  armed  vessels  to  cut  off  the 
enemy's  supplies  became  apparent.  The  Rhode  Island  Assembly  (June 
12)  authorized  two  vessels  to  be  fitted  out,  one  of  eighty  men,  under  Abra 
ham  "Whipple,  the  other  of  thirty  men,  under  Christopher  Whipple.  Con 
necticut  authorized  (July  1)  two  armed  vessels  to  be  fitted  out,  and  so  im 
portant  was  it  to  distress  the  British,  that  "Washington,  under  his  general 
authority,  ordered  vessels  to  be  equipped.  The  first  captain  he  commissioned 
was  Nicholas  Broughton,  of  Marblehead,  whose  instructions  "to  take  the 
command  of  a  detachment  of  said  army,  and  proceed  on  board  the  Schooner 
Hannah,  at  Beverly,"  are  dated  September  2,  1775.  Under  directions  from 
Congress,  October  6,  every  effort  was  made  to  fit  out  the  six  schooners  re 
ferred  to  by  Washington,  but  they  were  not  all  ready  for  sea  until  the  last 
of  the  month.  On  the  29th  the  Lynch,  commanded  by  Captain  Broughton, 
and  the  Franklin,  by  Captain  Selrnan,  had  sailed  for  the  St.  Lawrence ;  the 
Lee,  by  Captain  Manly,  sailed  the  same  day  on  a  cruise ;  the  Warren,  by 
Captain  Adams,  and  the  Washington,  by  Captain  Martindale,  were  to  sail 
on  the  30th ;  the  Harrison,  by  Captain  Coit,  was  on  a  cruise.  Some  of  the 
vessels  were  unfortunate.  Captain  Martindale  was  captured,  and,  with  his 
crew,  was  carried  to  England.  Others,  however,  were  highly  successful. 


SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  18. 

At  Roxbury :  In  conference  with  Generals  "Ward,  Thomas, 
and  Spencer,  and  Colonel  Rufus  Putnam. 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER  27. 

At  Cambridge :  "  Your  favor  of  the  13th,  came  to  this 
place  on  Wednesday  evening  [November  22]  ;  part  of  which, 
that  is,  the  night,  I  was  engaged  with  a  party  of  men  throw 
ing  up  a  work  upon  a  hill  called  Cobble  Hill,  which,  in  case 
we  should  ever  be  supplied  with  such  things  as  we  want, 
may  prove  useful  to  us,  and  could  not  be  delayed,  as  the 
earth  here  is  getting  as  hard  as  a  rock." — Washington  to 
Richard  Henry  Lee. 

"  November  22d. — A  strong  detachment  from  the  army,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Maj.  Gen.  Putnam,  broke  ground  on  Cobble  Hill,  without  annoy 
ance.  The  fatigue-men  worked  until  near  break  of  day,  when  the  whole 
came  off.  .  23d. — At  night,  our  General  [Heath],  with  a  detachment  of 
similar  strength  to  that  of  the  preceding  night  were  ordered  to  Cobble  Hill, 
to  complete  the  works." — Heath's  Memoirs. 


22  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1775 

SATUKDAY,  DECEMBEK  2. 

At  Cambridge :  "  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that 
one  of  our  armed  vessels,  the  Lee,  Captain  Manly  j  took 
and  brought  in  the  other  day  ps"ovember  30]  a  valuable 
store-ship  bound  to  Boston." — Washington  to  Jonathan  Trum- 
bull. 

"  November  30th. — Intelligence  was  received  from  Cape-Ann,  that  a  vessel 
from  England,  laden  with  warlike  stores,  had  been  taken  and  brought  into 
that  place.  There  was  on  board  one  13  inch  brass  mortar,  2,000  stand  of 
arms,  100,000  flints,  32  tons  of  leaden  balls,  &c.  &c.  A  fortunate  capture 
for  the  Americans  !" — Heath's  Memoirs. 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  3. 

At  Cambridge :  Attends  service  at  the  Rev.  Dr.  Apple- 
ton's  Church;  discourse  by  Abiel  Leonard,  chaplain  to 
General  Putnam's  command. 

This  was  the  "  Old  Congregational  Church,"  which  Washington  attended 
while  in  Cambridge,  the  minister  being  the  venerable  Nathaniel  Appleton. 
The  building  was  taken  down  in  1833,  and  the  land  sold  to  the  corporation 
of  Harvard  College.  It  stood  near  the  spot  where  Dane  Hall  now  stands. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBEK  4. 

At  Cambridge :  "  The  great  want  of  powder  is  what  the 
attention  of  Congress  should  be  particularly  applied  to.  I 
dare  not  attempt  anything  offensive,  let  the  temptation  or 
advantage  be  ever  so  great,  as  I  have  not  more  of  that  most 
essential  article,  than  will  be  absolutely  necessary  to  defend 
our  lines,  should  the  enemy  attempt  to  attack  them." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  11. 

At  Cambridge :  Mrs.  "Washington  arrives  at  Cambridge, 
accompanied  by  her  son,  John  Parke  Custis,  and  his  wife. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBEE  18. 

At  Cambridge  :  "  We  now  work  at  our  ease  on  Lechmere's 
Hill.     On  discovering  our  party  there  yesterday  morning, 


1775]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  23 

the  ship  which  lay  opposite  began  a  cannonade,  to  which 
Mount  Horam  [west  side  of  Boston]  added  some  shells. 
One  of  our  men  was  wounded.  We  fired  a  few  shot  from 
two  eighteen  pounders,  which  are  placed  on  Cobble  Hill, 
and  soon  obliged  the  ship  to  shift  her  station." —  Washing 
ton  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  December  12th. — A  causeway  was  begun  over  the  marsh,  to  Leechmore's 
Point.  Two  18  pounders  were  brought  from  Roxbury,  and  mounted  at 
Cobble  Hill.  .  14th,  15th,  and  16th. — Approaches  were  carried  briskly  on  to 
Leechmore's  Point,  and  nearly  to  the  top  of  the  hill.  .  17th. — A  detachment 
of  300  men,  under  the  direction  of  Gen.  Putnam,  broke  ground  on  the  top 
of  the  hill,  on  Leechmore's  Point.  .  18th. — Our  General  [Heath]  was 
ordered,  with  300  men,  to  prosecute  the  work  begun  on  Leechmore's  Point. 
.  In  the  afternoon,  Gen.  Washington  and  several  other  General  Officers 
came  on  to  the  Point.  .  19th. — The  prosecution  of  the  works  on  Leechmore's 
Point  was  continued." — Heath 's  Memoirs. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  25. 

At  Cambridge :  "  We  have  made  good  progress  in  the 
works  on  Lechmere's  Point.  They  would  have  been  finished 
ere  this,  but  for  the  severity  of  the  weather,  which  prevents 
our  people  from  working." —  Washington  to  the  President  of 
Congress. 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  31. 

At  Cambridge :  "  General  Lee  is  just  returned  from  his 
excursion  to  Rhode  Island.  He  has  pointed  out  the  best 
method  the  island  would  admit  of  for  its  defence.  He  has 
endeavoured  all  in  his  power  to  make  friends  of  those  that 
were  our  enemies." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

General  Lee's  excursion  to  Rhode  Island  was  made  at  the  instance  ot 
Governor  Cooke,  who  had  written  to  "Washington,  requesting  military  aid 
and  the  services  of  an  efficient  officer  to  put  the  island  in  a  state  of  defence. 
Having  laid  out  works,  and  given  directions  for  fortifications,  besides  arrest- 
Jng  some  Tory  citizens,  he  returned  to  camp  after  an  absence  of  ten  days. 
Early  in  January,  1776,  in  consequence  of  the  fitting  out  of  a  fleet  at  Boston, 
under  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  for  a  southern  expedition,  Lee  proceeded  to  New 
York,  and  did  good  service  in  beginning  the  fortifications  needed  for  the 
city  and  neighboring  strategic  points. 


24  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1775 

On  the  27th  of  February,  1776,  Congress  formed  what  were  called  the 
middle  and  southern  military  departments ;  the  former  consisting  of  New 
York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  and  Maryland  ;  and  the  latter 
of  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia.  General  Lee 
was  directed,  March  1,  to  take  command  of  the  southern  department,  and 
in  compliance  with  that  order  left  New  York  on  the  7th.  Lee  did  not  re 
join  the  main  army  until  October  14,  when  he  took  command  of  the  right 
wing,  having,  by  the  resignation  of  General  Ward,  become  senior  major- 
general. 


1776. 


MONDAY,  JANUARY  1. 

At  Cambridge:  Orderly  Book. — "This  day  giving  com 
mencement  to  the  new  army,  which  in  every  point  of  view 
is  entirely  Continental,  the  General  flatters  himself  that  a 
laudable  spirit  of  emulation  will  now  take  place,  and  per 
vade  the  whole  of  it." 

The  appointment  of  Washington  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the  Amer 
ican  forces,  and  the  adoption  by  Congress  of  the  army  which  had  gathered 
before  Boston,  immediately  after  the  battle  of  Concord  and  Lexington,  gave 
that  army  more  of  a  military  status  than  it  had  possessed  as  commanded  by 
provincial  officers  ;  yet  the  enlistments  were  short,  and  it  soon  became  neces 
sary,  from  that  and  other  causes,  to  reorganize  the  whole  body.  The  new 
army  referred  to  in  the  order  was  enlisted  for  a  year's  service  from  January 
1,  1776,  under  a  plan  agreed  upon  by  Washington  and  a  committee  of  Con 
gress,  and,  while  the  army  it  replaced  had  to  a  certain  extent  possessed  some 
thing  of  a  national  character,  yet  the  new  army  may  certainly  be  classed  as 
the  first  Continental  army,  raised  for  the  cause  of  independence.  On  this 
day,  also,  the  Union  flag,  composed  of  thirteen  alternate  red  and  white 
stripes,  with  the  British  union  (the  combined  crosses  of  St.  George  and  St. 
Andrew)  in  the  upper  corner,  was  displayed  for  the  first  time. 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  4. 

At  Cambridge :  "  It  is  not  in  the  pages  of  history,  per 
haps,  to  furnish  a  case  like  ours.  To  maintain  a  post  within 
musket-shot  of  the  enemy,  for  six  months  together,  without 
[powder],  and  at  the  same  time  to  disband  one  army,  and 
recruit  another,  within  that  distance  of  twenty  odd  British 
regiments,  is  more,  probably,  than  was  ever  attempted." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

SUNDAY,  JANUARY  14. 

At  Cambridge  :  "The  reflection  on  my  situation,  and  that 
of  this  army,  produces  many  an  uneasy  hour  when  all  around 

25 


26  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1776 

me  are  wrapped  in  sleep.  Few  people  know  the  predicament 
we  are  in,  on  a  thousand  accounts ;  fewer  still  will  believe, 
if  any  disaster  happens  to  these  lines,  from  what  cause  it 
flows.  I  have  often  thought  how  much  happier  I  should 
have  been,  if,  instead  of  accepting  the  command  under  such 
circumstances,  I  had  taken  my  musket  on  my  shoulder  and 
entered  the  ranks,  or,  if  I  could  have  justified  the  measure 
to  posterity  and  my  own  conscience,  had  retired  to  the  back 
country,  and  lived  in  a  wigwam." — Washington  to  Joseph 
Heed. 

TUESDAY,  JANUARY  16. 

At  Cambridge :  A  council  of  war,  in  which  it  was  agreed 
that  an  attempt  ought  to  be  made  to  conquer  the  ministerial 
troops  in  Boston,  but  that  the  force  was  inadequate.  The 
council,  therefore,  advised  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  re 
quest  of  the  neighboring  colonies  thirteen  regiments  of 
militia,  to  serve  till  the  first  of  April. 

On  the  18th,  another  council  of  war  was  held  to  consider  the  letters  re 
ceived  the  evening  before  from  Canada,  conveying  intelligence  of  the  death 
of  General  Montgomery  and  the  disaster  at  Quebec.  When  the  question 
was  put,  it  was  resolved  to  be  inexpedient,  in  the  present  weakened  state  of 
the  lines,  to  send  a  detachment  from  the  main  army  to  Canada ;  but  the 
General  was  advised  to  request  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  and  New  Hamp 
shire  to  raise  three  regiments  with  all  possible  despatch  for  the  Canada  ex 
pedition,  and  that  these  regiments  should  be  considered  as  part  of  the  thirteen 
already  required.  John  Adams  as  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
and  being  then  in  "Watertown,  assisted  at  both  of  the  above  councils,  by  the 
special  invitation  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

THURSDAY,  JANUAEY  18. 

At  Cambridge  •  "  January  18th. — Col.  Knox,  of  the  artil 
lery,  came  to  camp.  He  brought  from  Ticonderoga  a  fine 
train  of  artillery,  which  had  been  taken  from  the  British, 
both  cannon  and  mortars,  and  which  were  ordered  to  be 
stopped  at  Framingham." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

Under  instructions  of  16th  November,  1775,  Henry  Knox  left  Cambridge, 
to  procure,  as  speedily  as  possible,  from  New  York,  Ticonderoga,  Crown 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  27 

Point,  or  St.  Johns,  all  the  cannon,  mortars,  shells,  lead,  and  ammunition 
that  could  be  obtained.  He  reached  New  York  on  the  25th,  Albany  on 
December  1,  and  Ticonderoga  on  the  5th.  On  the  9th  he  started  homeward 
with  his  important  charge,  which  consisted  of  fifty-five  pieces  of  iron  and 
brass  ordnance,  one  barrel  of  flints,  and  twenty-three  boxes  (two  thousand 
three  hundred  pounds)  of  lead.  In  alluding  to  the  difficulties  and  dangers 
of  this  undertaking  and  its  success,  his  biographer,  Francis  S.  Drake,  says : 
"  This  achievement  stamped  the  character  of  Knox  for  boldness,  enterprise, 
fertility  of  resource  and  genius,  supplied  the  means  for  fortifying  Dorchester 
Heights,  and  vindicated  the  judgment  of  Washington  in  selecting  him  for 
the  important  and  responsible  duties  of  the  artillery  and  ordnance  depart 
ments." 

WEDNESDAY,  JANUARY  24. 

At  Cambridge:  "January  24. — Dined  at  C.[olonel]  Mif- 
flin's,  at  Cambridge,  with  G.  "Washington  and  Gates  and 
their  ladies,  and  half  a  dozen  sachems  and  warriors  of  the 
French  Caghnawaga  tribe,  with  their  wives  and  children. 
.  .  The  General  introduced  me  to  them  as  one  of  the  grand 
council  fire  at  Philadelphia,  upon  which  they  made  me 
many  bows  and  a  cordial  reception." — Diary  of  John  Adams. 

WEDNESDAY,  JANUARY  31. 

At  Cambridge :  "  I  hope  my  countrymen  of  Virginia  will 
rise  superior  to  any  losses  the  whole  navy  of  Great  Britain 
can  bring  on  them,  and  that  the  destruction  of  Norfolk,  and 
the  attempted  devastation  of  other  places,  will  have  no  other 
effect,  than  to  unite  the  whole  country  in  one  indissoluble 
bond.  A  few  more  of  such  flaming  arguments,  as  were 
exhibited  at  Falmouth  and  Norfolk,  added  to  the  sound 
doctrine  and  unanswerable  reasoning  contained  in  the  pam 
phlet  '  Common  Sense,'*  will  not  leave  numbers  at  a  loss  to 
decide  upon  the  propriety  of  a  separation." — Washington  to 
Joseph  Reed. 

*  The  celebrated  pamphlet  written  by  Thomas  Paine,  and  published  at 
Philadelphia  in  the  early  part  of  January,  1776.  This  powerful  production, 
advocating  an  absolute  separation  from  the  mother  country,  inspired  the 
people  with  a  desire  for  independence,  and  united  them  in  its  support,  more 
than  anything  else. 


28  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1776 

Lord  Dunmore,  Governor  of  Virginia,  who,  after  his  repulse  by  the 
militia  at  the  Great  Bridge,  on  Elizabeth  Kiver,  December  9,  1775,  had 
abandoned  Norfolk,  and  taken  refuge  on  the  fleet,  gave  notice,  December 
31,  that  he  should  cannonade  the  town.  The  cannonade  was  opened  at  four 
o'clock  the  next  morning,  and  marines  and  sailors  were  sent  on  shore  to  set 
fire  to  the  city.  The  conflagration  raged  about  fifty  hours,  during  which 
the  cannonade  was  kept  up,  and  a  greater  portion  of  the  most  compact  part 
of  the  town  was  laid  in  ashes. 

FRIDAY,  FEBKUAKY  9. 

At  Cambridge :  "  I  have  tried  every  method  I  could  think 
of,  to  procure  arms  for  the  men.  They  really  are  not  to  be 
had  in  these  governments,  belonging  to  the  public,  and  if 
some  method  is  not  fallen  upon,  in  the  southern  govern 
ments,  to  supply  us,  we  shall  be  in  a  distressed  situation  for 
want  of  them.  There  are  near  2000  men  now  in  camp 
without  firelocks." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  10. 

At  Cambridge :  "  We  have  had  the  most  laborious  piece 
of  work  at  Lechmere's  Point,  on  account  of  the  frost,  that 
ever  you  saw.  "We  hope  to  get  it  finished  on  Sunday.  It 
is  within  as  commanding  a  distance  of  Boston  as  Dorchester 
Hill,  though  of  a  different  part." — Washington  to  Joseph 
Reed. 

The  return  of  February  10th  showed  a  force  of  8797  men  fit  for  duty, 
besides  officers  and  1405  men  on  command  who  might  be  ordered  to  join 
their  respective  regiments  immediately.  The  militia  from  the  New  England 
governments,  arrived  or  about  to  arrive  in  camp,  would,  if  the  regiments 
were  complete,  number  7280,  oflicers  included.  The  intelligence  from  Boston 
indicated  an  active  force  of  only  5000. 

FRIDAY,  FEBRUARY  16. 

At  Cambridge :  A  council  of  war,  in  which  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  advanced  what  he  deemed  strong  reasons 
for  making  an  immediate  assault  on  the  town  of  Boston,  by 
proceeding  from  Cambridge  and  Roxbury  over  the  ice. 
This  opinion  was  overruled  by  the  council,  on  the  grounds 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  29 

that  there  was  not  force  enough  for  such  an  attempt,  and 
that  the  army  was  deficient  in  arms  and  powder. 

This  council  was  held  in  pursuance  of  a  resolution  of  Congress  of  December 
22:  "  That  if  General  "Washington  and  his  council  of  war  should  be  of  the 
opinion,  that  a  successful  attack  may  be  made  on  the  troops  in  Boston,  he 
do  it  in  any  manner  he  may  think  expedient,  notwithstanding  the  town  and 
property  in  it  may  thereby  be  destroyed." 

The  adverse  decision  was  a  great  disappointment  to  "Washington,  who  was 
not  orly  ready,  but  willing  and  desirous  of  making  the  assault.  In  report 
ing  to  Congress  the  conclusion  of  the  council  he  said:  "I  have  many  dis 
agreeable  sensations  on  account  of  my  situation  ;  for,  to  have  the  eyes  of  the 
whole  continent  fixed  with  anxious  expectation  of  hearing  of  some  great 
event,  and  to  be  restrained  in  every  military  operation,  for  want  of  the 
necessary  means  of  carrying  it  on,  is  not  very  pleasing,  especially  as  the 
means,  used  to  conceal  my  weakness  from  the  enemy  conceal  it  also  from  our 
friends,  and  add  to  their  wonder." 

SUNDAY,  FEBRUARY  25. 

At  Cambridge  :  "  February  25th. — Some  heavy  cannon 
were  mounted  on  the  works  at  Leechmore's  Point." — 
Heath's  Memoirs. 

"  We  have,  under  many  difficulties  on  account  of  hard  frozen  ground, 
completed  our  work  on  Lechmere's  Point.  We  have  got  some  heavy  pieces 
of  ordnance  placed  there,  two  platforms  fixed  for  mortars,  and  everything 
ready  for  any  offensive  operation.  Strong  guards  are  now  mounted  there, 
and  at  Cobble  Hill." — Washington  to  Joseph  Reed,  February  26. 

MONDAY,  FEBRUARY  26. 

At  Cambridge  :  A  council  of  war,  in  which  it  was  decided 
to  take  possession  of  Dorchester  Heights  on  the  night  of 
the  4th  of  March,  that  being  the  eve  of  the  anniversary  of 
the  "  Boston  Massacre." 

"  All  officers,  non-commissioned  Officers,  and  Soldiers,  are  positively  forbid 
playing  at  cards  and  other  games  of  chance.  At  this  time  of  public  distress 
men  may  find  enough  to  do  in  the  service  of  their  God  and  their  Country, 
without  abandoning  themselves  to  vice  and  immorality." — Orderly  Book, 
February  26. 

TUESDAY,  FEBRUARY  27. 

At  Cambridge:    Orderly  Book. — "As  the  season  is  now 


30  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1776 

fast  approaching  when  every  man  must  expect  to  be  drawn 
into  the  field  of  action,  it  is  highly  necessary  that  he  should 
prepare  his  mind,  as  well  as  everything  necessary  for  it.  It 
is  a  noble  Cause  we  are  engaged  in,  it  is  the  cause  of  virtue 
and  mankind,  every  temporal  advantage  and  comfort  to  us, 
and  our  posterity  depends  upon  the  Vigor  of  our  exertions ; 
in  short,  Freedom  or  Slavery  must  be  the  result  of  our  con 
duct,  there  can  therefore  be  no  greater  Inducement  to  men 
to  behave  well." 

SATURDAY,  MAECH  2. 

At  Cambridge :  "  March  2d. — At  night,  a  cannonade  and 
bombardment  began  at  the  American  works,  on  Cobble 
Hill  and  Leechmore's  Point  on  the  Cambridge  side,  and  at 
Lamb's  Dam  on  the  Boxbury  side,  against  the  British 
works ;  and  a  number  of  shells  were  thrown  into  Boston." 
— Heath's  Memoirs. 

SUNDAY,  MARCH  3. 

At  Cambridge  :  "  I  hope  in  a  few  nights  to  be  in  readiness 
to  take  post  on  Dorchester  Point,  as  we  are  using  every 
means  in  our  power  to  provide  materials  for  this  purpose ; 
the  ground  being  so  hard  froze  yet,  that  we  cannot  intrench, 
and  therefore  are  obliged  to  depend  entirely  upon  chande 
liers,  fascines,  and  screwed  hay  for  our  redoubts.  It  is  ex 
pected  that  this  work  will  bring  on  an  action  between  the 
king's  troops  and  ours." — Washington  to  Joseph  Heed. 

"  As  it  is  not  unlikely  but  a  contest  may  soon  be  brought  on,  between  the 
ministerial  Troops,  and  this  Army :  The  General  flatters  himself  that  every 
Officer,  and  Soldier,  will  endeavour  to  give,  such  distinguish'd  proofs  of  hig 
conduct,  and  good  behaviour,  as  becomes  men,  fighting  for  everything  that 
is  dear,  and  valuable  to  Freemen  ;  remembering  at  the  same  time  what 
disgraceful  punishment  will  attend  a  contrary  behaviour." — Orderly  Book, 
March  3. 

MONDAY,  MARCH  4. 

At  Cambridge :  "  March  4th. — There  was  an  almost  in 
cessant  roar  of  cannon  and  mortars  during  the  night,  on 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  31 

both  sides.  The  Americans  took  possession  of  Dorchester 
heights,  and  nearly  completed  their  works  on  both  the  hills 
by  morning.  Perhaps  there  never  was  so  much  work  done 
in  so  short  a  space  of  time." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"On  the  26th  ultimo  I  had  the  honor  of  addressing  you,  and  then 
mentioned  that  we  were  making  preparations  for  taking  possession  of  Dor 
chester  Heights.  I  now  beg  leave  to  inform  you,  that  a  council  of  general 
officers  having  determined  a  previous  bombardment  and  cannonade  expedient 
and  proper,  in  order  to  harass  the  enemy  and  divert  their  attention  from  that 
quarter,  on  Saturday,  Sunday,  and  Monday  nights  last,  we  carried  them  on 
from  our  posts  at  Cobble  Hill,  Lechmere's  Point,  and  Lamb's  Dam.  .  .  Our 
taking  possession  of  Dorchester  Heights*  is  only  preparatory  to  taking  post 
on  Nook's  Hill,  and  the  points  opposite  to  the  south  end  of  Boston." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress,  March  7. 

TUESDAY,  MAECH  5. 

At  Dorchester  Heights  :  Awaiting  an  attack  from  General 
Howe.  "His  Excellency  General  Washington  is  present, 
animating  and  encouraging  the  soldiers,  and  they  in  return 
manifest  their  joy  and  express  a  warm  desire  for  the  ap 
proach  of  the  enemy." — Tkacher's  Military  Journal. 

"  March  5th. — The  British,  it  was  expected,  would  attempt  to  dislodge 
the  Americans  from  Dorchester  heights.  Signals  had  been  prepared  at  Rox- 
bury  meeting-house  to  mark  the  moment.  The  detachment  at  Cambridge 
(designed  to  push  into  Boston  in  the  boats)  was  paraded,  not  far  from  [Fort] 
No.  2,  where  it  remained  a  good  part  of  the  day.  But  kind  Heaven,  which 
more  than  once  saved  the  Americans  when  they  would  have  destroyed  them 
selves,  did  not  allow  the  signals  to  be  made.  About  3500  of  the  British 
troops,  it  was  said,  had  been  sent  down  to  the  Castle  [William],  with  the 
intent  to  have  made  an  attack  on  the  Americans ;  but  about  midnight,  the 
wind  blew  almost  a  hurricane  from  the  south ;  many  windows  were  forced 
in,  sheds  and  fences  blown  down,  and  some  vessels  drove  on  shore  ;  and  no 
attempt  was  made  on  the  works." — Heath' 's  Memoirs. 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  9. 

At  Cambridge  :  "  From  a  gentleman  out  of  Boston,  con 
firmed  by  a  paper  from  the  selectmen  there,  we  have  un- 

*  "  March  4. — To  Exp"  of  myself  and  Party  recong.  Dorchester  Heights 
previous  to  our  possessing  them.  .  £10.10." — Washington's  Accounts. 


32  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.          [1776 

doubted  information  of  General  Howe's  preparing  with  great 
precipitancy  to  embark  his  troops ;  for  what  place  we  know 
not;  Halifax  it  is  said." — Washington  to  Joseph  Reed. 

"  To-night  I  shall  have  a  battery  thrown  up  on  Nooks  Hill,  with  a  design 
of  acting  as  circumstances  may  require." — Washington  to  the  President  of 
Congress,  March  9. 

WEDNESDAY,  MAKCH  13. 

At  General  "Ward's  Quarters,  Boxbury :  A  council  of  war, 
in  which  it  was  determined,  that  if  Boston  was  not  evacu 
ated  the  next  day  it  would  be  advisable,  at  all  events,  to 
fortify  Nook's  Hill  the  next  night. 

Nook's  Hill,  Dorchester  Point,  completely  commanded  Boston,  and  on 
Saturday,  March  16,  a  strong  detachment  was  sent  to  fortify  it.  The  British 
discovered  it,  and  cannonaded  it  during  the  night.  The  Americans  did  not 
return  the  fire,  but  maintained  their  ground.  General  Howe  then  resolved  to 
evacuate  the  town  without  further  delay,  and  very  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
17th  (two  o'clock),  commenced  the  embarkation  of  his  army.  About  riine 
o'clock  the  garrison  left  Bunker  Hill,  and  a  large  number  of  boats,  filled 
with  troops  and  inhabitants,  put  off  from  the  wharves  of  Boston. 

SUNDAY,  MAKCH  17. 

At  Cambridge :  "  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that 
this  morning  the  ministerial  troops  evacuated  the  town  of 
Boston  without  destroying  it,  and  that  we  are  now  in  full 
possession." — Washington  to  Governor  Cooke. 

"  Cambridge,  March  21. — Last  Sabbath  [March  17]  a  few  hours  after  the 
enemy  retreated  from  Boston,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Leonard  [chaplain  to  General 
Putnam's  command]  preached  an  excellent  sermon,  in  the  audience  of 
his  Excellency  the  General  [Washington],  and  others  of  distinction,  well 
adapted  to  the  interesting  event  of  the  day,  from  Exod.  XIV.  25.  •  And 
took  off  their  chariot  wheels,  that  they  drave  them  heavily:  so  that  the 
Egyptians  said,  Let  us  flee  from  the  face  of  Israel,  for  the  Lord  fighteth  for 
them  against  the  Egyptians.'" — Pennsylvania  Evening  Post,  March  30, 
1776. 

MONDAY,  MARCH  18. 

In  Boston :  Dines  with  James  Bowdoin  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Erving. 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  33 

TUESDAY,  MAKCH  19. 

At  Cambridge :  "  The  town,  although  it  has  suffered 
greatly,  is  not  in  so  bad  a  state  as  I  expected  to  find  it ;  and 
I  have  a  particular  pleasure  in  being  able  to  inform  you,  Sir, 
that  your  house  has  received  no  damage  worth  mentioning. 
Your  furniture  is  in  tolerable  order,  and  the  family  pictures 
are  all  left  entire  and  untouched." — Washington  to  John 
Hancock. 

WEDNESDAY,  MAKCH  20. 

In  Boston  :  The  Commander-in-Chief  enters  the  city  with 
the  main  body  of  the  army. 

"  "Whitcomb's,  Phinney's  and  Hutchinson's  Kegiments  are  to  march  into 
Boston  this  day,  and  remain  there  until  further  orders,  they  are  to  guard  the 
Town  and  public  stores  there,  and  do  all  such  fatigue  and  other  duties,  as  the 
General  commanding  there,  thinks  proper  to  order — Every  possible  precaution 
will  be  taken  to  destroy  the  Infection  of  the  small-pox.  The  Troops  now  in 
Boston  [under  General  Putnam]  are  to  march  out,  and  join  their  respective 
Kegiments,  upon  being  relieved  by  the  Kegiments  that  are  to  march  in." — 
Orderly  Book,  March  20. 

THURSDAY,  MAKCH  21. 

At  Cambridge  :  Issues  a  proclamation  for  the  preservation 
of  peace,  good  order,  and  discipline,  and  enjoining  "All 
officers  of  the  Continental  army  to  assist  the  civil  magis 
trates  in  the  execution  of  their  duty,  and  to  promote  peace 
and  good  order." 

SUNDAY,  MARCH  24. 

At  Cambridge  :  "  The  fleet  is  still  in  Nantasket  Road.  .  . 
On  "Wednesday  night  last  [the  20th],  before  the  whole  of 
the  fleet  fell  down  to  Nantasket,  they  demolished  the  Castle 
[William],  and  houses  belonging  to  it,  by  burning  them 
down,  and  the  several  fortifications.  They  left  a  great 
number  of  the  cannon,  but  have  rendered  all  of  them, 
except  a  very  few,  entirely  useless,  by  breaking  off  the 
trunions.  Those  few  they  spiked  up;  but  they  may  be 

4 


34  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1776 

made  serviceable  again;  some  are  already  done." — Washing 
ton  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

WEDNESDAY,  MARCH  27. 

At  Cambridge :  "  I  have  just  received  intelligence  that 
the  whole  of  the  ministerial  fleet,  besides  three  or  four  ships, 
got  under  way  this  evening  at  ISTantasket  Road,  and  were 
standing  out  for  sea." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Con 
gress. 

On  the  day  following  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British,  "Washing 
ton,  supposing  that  the  next  attempt  would  be  against  New  York,  ordered 
the  whole  body  of  riflemen  and  six  regiments  of  the  army  under  General 
Heath,  to  march  for  that  city.  He  now,  on  the  final  departure  of  the  fleet, 
ordered  the  whole  army  to  the  south,  with  the  exception  of  five  regiments 
left  for  the  protection  of  Boston,  under  General  Ward.  The  British  fleet, 
with  about  ten  thousand  troops  and  one  thousand  refugees,  had,  however, 
sailed  for  Halifax,  and  General  Howe  did  not  arrive  at  Sandy  Hook  until 
the  29th  of  June.  On  July  3  he  landed  nine  thousand  men  on  Staten 
Island,  and  there  awaited  the  arrival  of  his  brother,  Admiral  Howe,  with 
English  regulars  and  Hessian  hirelings. 

THURSDAY,  MARCH  28. 

In  Boston :  "  Thursday  [March  28]  the  Lecture,  which 
was  established,  and  has  been  observed  from  the  first  settle 
ment  of  Boston,  without  interruption,  until  within  these 
few  months  past  was  opened  by  the  Reverend  Doctor  Elliot. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington,  the  other  General 
Officers  and  their  suites,  having  been  previously  invited, 
met  in  the  Council  Chamber,  from  whence,  preceded  by  the 
Sheriff  with  his  Wand,  attended  by  the  Members  of  the 
Council  who  had  had  the  small  pox,  the  Committee  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  the  Selectmen,  the  Clergy,  and 
many  other  Gentlemen,  they  repaired  to  the  old  Brick 
Meeting  House,  where  an  excellent  and  well  adapted  dis 
course  was  delivered  from  those  words  in  the  XXXIII. 
Chapter  of  Isaiah,  and  20th  verse.  After  divine  service  was 
ended  his  Excellency,  attended  and  accompanied  as  before, 
returned  to  the  Council  Chamber,  from  whence  they  pro- 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  35 

ceeded  to  the  Bunch  of  Grapes  tavern,  where  an  elegant 
dinner  was  provided  at  the  public  expence;  after  which 
many  very  proper  and  pertinent  toasts  were  drank.  Joy 
and  gratitude  sat  on  every  countenance,  and  smiled  in  every 
eye." — Pennsylvania  Evening  Post,  April  9,  1776. 

FKIDAT,  MAKCH  29. 

At  Cambridge :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  General  Assembly  of  Massachusetts. 

SUNDAY,  MAKCH  31. 

At  Cambridge :  "  The  enemy  left  all  their  works  stand 
ing  in  Boston  and  on  Bunker's  Hill ;  and  formidable  they 
are.  The  town  has  shared  a  much  better  fate  than  was  ex 
pected,  the  damage  done  to  the  houses  being  nothing  equal 
to  report.  But  the  inhabitants  have  suffered  a  good  deal, 
in  being  plundered  by  the  soldiery  at  their  departure." — 
Washington  to  John  Augustine  Washington. 

"To  Exp"  in  visiting  the  several  Islands  in  Boston  Harbor — after  the 
Evacuation  of  the  Town  by  the  Enemy.  .  £8.10." — Washington's  Accounts. 

MONDAY,  APKIL  1. 

At  Cambridge  :  "  Your  letter  of  the  15th  ultimo  contained 
a  very  unfavorable  account  of  the  Carolinas,  but  I  am  glad 
to  find  by  the  subsequent  one  of  the  23d,  that  the  prospect 
brightens,  and  that  Mr.  Martin's  first  attempt,  (through 
those  universal  instruments  of  tyranny,  the  Scotch,)  hath 
met  with  its  deserved  success." —  Washington  to  Joseph  Reed. 

Josiah  Martin,  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  having  represented  that  a 
force  of  three  or  four  thousand  loyal  men  could  be  raised  in  the  Carolinas, 
sent  his  agent,  Alexander  Maclean,  into  the  back  country,  authorizing  some 
of  the  inhabitants,  chiefly  Scotch,  to  form  an  "  army"  to  be  under  the  com 
mand  of  Donald  Macdonald.  At  the  appointed  time  in  February,  a  force 
far  inferior  in  numbers  to  what  had  been  promised,  assembled  at  Cross 
Creek  (now  Faj'etteville),  and,  marching  towards  Wilmington,  was  met  and 
defeated  with  great  loss  on  the  27th  of  February,  at  Moore's  Creek,  by  a 
body  of  Carolinians  under  Colonel  Kichard  Caswell. 


36  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1776 

WEDNESDAY,  APKIL  3. 

At  Cambridge :  "  The  chief  part  of  the  troops  are  marched 
from  hence  towards  New  York.  I  will  set  off  to-morrow." 
—  Washington  to  General  Arnold. 

By  diploma  of  this  date,  April  3,  1776,  Harvard  College  conferred  on 
"Washington,  "  who  by  the  most  signal  smiles  of  Divine  Providence  on  his 
military  operations,  drove  the  Fleet  and  Troops  of  the  enemy  with  disgrace 
ful  precipitation  from  the  town  of  Boston,"  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws. 

THUKSDAY,  APKIL  4. 

At  Cambridge :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Boston,  and  leaves  for  New 
York. 

FKIDAY,  APRIL  5. 

At  Providence,  Rhode  Island :  Meets  Governor  Nicholas 
Cooke  and  his  Council,  and  is  present  in  the  evening  at  an 
entertainment  given  in  his  honor. 

MONDAY,  APKIL  8. 

At  Norwich,  Connecticut :  Meets  Governor  Trumbull  by 
appointment  at  Jedediah  Huntington's,  where  they  dine  to 
gether.  Leaves  in  the  evening. 

TUESDAY,  APKIL  9. 

At  New  London,  Connecticut :  Meets  Commodore  Hop 
kins,  and  sleeps  at  the  house  of  Captain  Nathaniel  Shaw. 

WEDNESDAY,  APKIL  10. 

At  Lyme,  Connecticut :  Spends  the  night  at  the  house  of 
John  McCurdy,  and  reaches  New  Haven  on  the  following 
day. 

SATURDAY,  APRIL  13. 

At  New  York:  "Last  Saturday  [April  13],  His  Excel 
lency  General  Washington  arrived  at  New  York  from  Cam 
bridge,  attended  by  [William]  Palfrey,  Esq.  his  aid-de-camp, 
Horatio  Gates,  Esq.  Adjutant  General,  and  several  other 


1776]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  37 

gentlemen  of  distinction." — Pennsylvania  Evening  Post,  April 
16,  1776. 

"Washington's  first  head-quarters  in  New  York  were  at  a  house  in  Pearl 
Street  opposite  Cedar,  where  he  remained  until  summoned  to  visit  Congress 
at  Philadelphia,  towards  the  end  of  May.  On  his  return,  June  6,  he  went 
to  the  Mortier  House,  later  known  as  Kichmond  Hill,  which  stood  on  the 
spot  since  the  southeast  corner  of  Varick  and  Charlton  Streets.  Here  he 
remained  until  the  evacuation  in  September,  when  he  moved  to  the  "  Koger 
Morris  House,"  Harlem  Heights. 

SUNDAY,  APEIL  14. 

At  New  York :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  General  compli 
ments  the  Officers,  who  have  successively  commanded  at 
this  Post,  and  returns  his  Thanks  to  them,  and  to  all  the 
officers,  and  soldiers,  under  their  Command  for  the  many 
Works  of  Defence,  which  have  been  so  expeditiously  erected, 
and  doubts  not  but  the  same  Spirit  of  Zeal  for  the  service 
will  continue  to  animate  their  future  conduct." 

MONDAY,  APKIL  15. 

At  New  York :  "  I  am  now  to  inform  you,  that  on  the 
4th  instant  I  set  out  from  Cambridge,  and  arrived  here  on 
Saturday  last.  I  came  through  Providence,  Norwich  and 
New  London,  in  order  to  see  and  expedite  the  embarkation 
of  the  troops." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

WEDNESDAY,  APKIL  17. 

At  New  York :  Mrs.  Washington  arrives  at  head-quarters. 

THURSDAY,  APKIL  18. 

At  New  York :  "  The  medal,  intended  to  be  presented  to 
me  by  your  honorable  body,  I  shall  carefully  preserve  as  a 
memorial  of  their  regard." — Washington  to  the  President  of 
Congress. 

On  the  25th  day  of  March,  Congress  in  session  passed  the  following  reso 
lution:  "  That  the  thanks  of  this  Congress,  in  their  own  name,  and  in  the 
name  of  the  Thirteen  United  Colonies,  whom  they  represent,  be  presented 
to  his  Excellency  General  Washington,  and  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  under 
his  command,  for  their  wise  and  spirited  conduct  in  the  siege  and  acquisition 


38  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1776 

of  Boston ;  and  that  a  Medal  of  gold  be  struck  in  commemoration  of  this 
great  event,  and  presented  to  his  Excellency." 

The  dies  for  the  medal,  ordered  in  pursuance  of  the  above  quoted  reso 
lution,  were  executed  at  Paris  in  1786.  The  impression  in  gold  struck  for 
presentation  to  Washington  remained  in  his  possession  until  his  death ;  it 
is  now  in  the  Boston  Public  Library,  having  been  purchased  in  1876  by 
subscription,  and  presented  to  the  city.  See  Baker's  "  Medallic  Portraits 
of  Washington,"  page  27. 

THURSDAY,  APRIL  25. 

At  New  York:  "April  25.— To  the  Exp8  of  myself  & 
party  recon8  the  sev1  Landing  places  &c  on  Staten  Island.  . 
£16.10." —  Washington's  Accounts. 

MONDAY,  APRIL  29. 

At  New  York :  Issues  a  proclamation  forbidding  inter 
course  and  correspondence  with  the  ships  of  war  and  other 
vessels  belonging  to  and  in  the  service  of  the  King  of  Great 
Britain. 

By  the  adjutant-general's  return  on  the  28th  of  April,  the  number  of 
troops  present  and  fit  for  duty  under  General  Washington's  command  was 
8101.  Including  those  who  were  sick,  absent  on  furlough,  and  on  com 
mand,  the  whole  army  at  New  York  amounted  to  10,235. 

FRIDAY,  MAY  17. 

At  New  York :  Observed,  by  order  of  Congress,  as  a  day 
of  fasting,  humiliation,  and  prayer. 

"  May.  .  To  Exp8  of  a  tour  on,  and  recon*  of  Long  Island.  .  £26.8.6."— 
Washington's  Accounts. 

TUESDAY,  MAY  21. 

At  New  York :  "  The  Congress  having  been  pleased  to 
signify  [resolution  of  May  16]  a  desire  that  I  should  repair 
to  Philadelphia,  in  order  to  advise  and  consult  with  them 
on  the  present  posture  of  affairs,  and  as  I  am  on  the  point 
of  setting  out  accordingly,  I  have  to  desire  that  you  will 
cause  the  different  works  now  in  agitation  to  be  carried  on 
with  the  utmost  expedition." — Washington  to  General  Put 
nam. 


1776]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  39 

"Washington  left  New  York  on  May  21  and  arrived  at  Philadelphia  on 
the  23d,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  stopping  on  the  way  at  Amboy, 
New  Jersey,  to  "  view,"  as  he  wrote  to  General  Schuyler,  "  the  ground,  and 
such  places  on  Staten  Island  contiguous  to  it,  as  may  be  proper  for  works 
of  defence." 

THURSDAY,  MAY  23. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  On  Thursday  last  [May  23]  arrived 
here  [Philadelphia],  his  Excellency  General  WASHINGTON 
from  New  York." — Pennsylvania  Journal,  May  29,  1776. 

FRIDAY,  MAY  24. 

At  Philadelphia:  "Agreeable  to  order,  General  Wash 
ington  attended  in  Congress,  and,  after  some  conference 
with  him,  Resolved,  That  he  be  directed  to  attend  again  to 
morrow." — Journal  of  Congress,  May  24. 

SATURDAY,  MAY  25. 

At  Philadelphia:  "Agreeable  to  order,  General  Wash 
ington  attended  [Congress],  and,  after  some  conference  with 
him,  Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  confer  with 
his  excellency  general  Washington,  Major-general  Gates, 
and  brigadier-general  Mifflin,  and  to  concert  a  plan  of  mili 
tary  operations,  for  the  ensuing  campaign." — Journal  of 
Congress,  May  25. 

MONDAY,  MAY  27. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  On  Monday  afternoon  [May  27],  Gen. 
Washington,  the  Members  of  Congress,  Gen.  Gates  and 
Mifflin,  reviewed  the  four  battalions,  the  rifle  battalion,  the 
light  horse,  and  3  artillery  companies  of  the  city  militia, 
amounting  to  near  2500  men,  when  they  went  through  their 
manoeuvers  to  general  satisfaction.  At  the  same  time  two 
battalions  of  the  Continental  troops  were  reviewed  by  the 
General.  The  Indians,  who  are  come  to  town  on  business 
with  the  Congress,  attended  the  General  in  reviewing  the 
militia,  &c." — Pennsylvania  Gazette,  May  29,  1776. 


40  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1776 

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  5. 

Leaves  Philadelphia:  Mrs.  "Washington,  who  had  been 
with  him  during  his  stay  (arriving  on  May  22),  remained 
somewhat  longer,  being  under  inoculation  for  the  small-pox. 
Washington  left  the  city  in  the  morning,  attended  by  Gen 
erals  Gates  and  Mifflin. 

"When  President  Hancock,  under  date  of  May  16,  wrote  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  advising  him  of  the  resolution  of  Congress,  requesting  his 
presence  in  Philadelphia,  he  added:  "I  request  the  favor,  that  you  will 
please  to  honor  me  with  your  and  your  lady's  company  at  my  house,  where 
I  have  a  bed  at  your  service,  and  where  every  endeavour  on  my  part  and 
Mrs.  Hancock's  will  be  exerted  to  make  your  abode  agreeable.  I  reside  in 
an  airy,  open  part  of  the  city,  in  Arch  Street,  corner  of  Fourth  Street." 
"Washington,  however,  on  his  arrival  at  Philadelphia,  received  a  note  from 
Mr.  Hancock,  expressing  his  sorrow  that  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  wait  on 
him  in  person  on  account  of  a  severe  fit  of  the  gout.  From  this  note  it  does 
not  appear  that  the  General  and  Mrs.  Washington  availed  themselves  of 
the  invitation. 

THUKSDAY,  JUNE  6. 

At  New  York:  "New  York,  June  10. — Thursday  after 
noon  [June  6]  his  Excellency  GENERAL  WASHINGTON  arrived 
in  town  from  Philadelphia." — Pennsylvania  Journal,  June 
12,  1776. 

SATUKDAY,  JUNE  8. 

At  New  York:  Receives  and  answers  a  resolution  of 
thanks  from  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York,  for  the 
"  important  services  he  has  rendered  to  the  United  Colo 
nies." 

TUESDAY,  JUNE  18. 

At  New  York :  "  June  18. — This  afternoon,  the  Provincial 
Congress  of  New  York  gave  an  elegant  entertainment  to 
General  Washington  and  his  suite;  the  general  and  staff 
officers,  and  the  commanding  officer  of  the  different  regi 
ments  in  and  near  the  city." — Diary  of  the  American  Revo 
lution. 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  41 

THUKSDAY,  JUNE  20. 

At  New  York:  "I  have  been  up  to  view  the  grounds 
about  Kingsbridge,  and  find  them  to  admit  of  several  places 
well  calculated  for  defence,  and,  esteeming  it  a  pass  of  the 
utmost  importance,  I  have  ordered  works  to  be  laid  out." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

These  works  were  of  great  importance  in  keeping  open  a  communication 
with  the  country.  They  embraced  the  fort  on  an  eminence  near  Hudson's 
Kiver,  called  Fort  "Washington,  the  redoubts  at  Jeffrey's  Point  and  on  the 
hills  north  and  east  of  Fort  Washington,  breastworks  at  Kingsbridge,  and 
Fort  Independence  on  the  north  side  of  Harlem  Creek  near  its  junction 
with  the  Hudson. 

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  26. 

At  New  York:  "June  26. — To  Expen'  in  Recon8  the 
Channel  &  Landings  on  both  sides  the  N°  River  as  high  as 
Tarry  Town  to  fix  the  defenses  thereof.  .  £10.8." — Washing 
ton's  Accounts. 

"  June.  .  To  a  Keconnoitre  of  the  East  Kiver  &  along  the  Sound  as  far 
as  Manierineck.  .  £16.9.4." — Washington's  Accounts. 

FKIDAY,  JUNE  28. 

At  New  York :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  unhappy  fate  of 
Thomas  Hickey  executed  this  day  for  Mutiny,  Sedition,  and 
Treachery ;  the  General  hopes  will  be  a  warning  to  every 
Soldier  in  the  Army  to  avoid  those  crimes  and  all  others,  so 
disgraceful  to  the  character  of  a  Soldier,  and  pernicious  to 
his  country,  whose  pay  he  receives  and  Bread  he  eats." 

.  Thomas  Hickey,  one  of  Washington's  Guard,  was  tried  by  a  court-martial 
and  sentenced  to  death,  being  found  implicated  in  a  plot  to  murder  the 
American  general  officers  on  the  arrival  of  the  British,  or  at  best  to  capture 
Washington  and  deliver  him  to  Sir  William  Howe.  The  plot  had  been 
traced  to  Governor  Tryon,  the  mayor  (David  Matthews)  having  been  a 
principal  agent  between  him  and  the  persons  concerned  in  it. 

SATUKDAY,  JUNE  29. 

At  New  York:  "  I  just  now  received  an  express  from  an 
officer  appointed  to  keep  a  look-out  on  Staten  Island,  that 


42  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1776 

forty-five  [ships]  arrived  at  the  Hook  to-day;   some  say 
more." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  June  29th. — The  transports  were  coming  in,  during  the  whole  day.  At 
evening,  nearly  100  sail  had  arrived.  The  General  Officers  were  in  council." 
— Heath' 's  Memoirs. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  30. 

At  New  York :  "  "When  I  had  the  honor  of  addressing 
you  yesterday,  I  had  only  been  informed  of  the  arrival  of 
Forty-five  of  the  fleet  in  the  Morning,  since  that  I  have  re 
ceived  authentic  Intelligence  from  Sundry  persons,  among 
them  from  Genl  Greene,  that  One  hundred  and  Ten  Sail 
came  in  before  night  that  were  counted,  and  that  more  were 
seen  about  dusk  in  the  offing." — Washington  to  the  President 
of  Congress. 

"  June  30th. — Mrs.  Washington  left  the  city." — Heath's  Memoirs. 
TUESDAY,  JULY  2. 

At  New  York :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  time  is  now  near 
at  hand,  which  must  probably  determine  whether  Ameri 
cans  are  to  be  Freemen  or  Slaves,  whether  they  are  to  have 
any  property  they  can  call  their  own,  whether  their  Houses, 
and  Farms,  are  to  be  pillaged  and  destroyed,  and  they  con 
signed  to  a  state  of  wretchedness  from  which  no  human 
eflfbrts  will  probably  deliver  them.  The  fate  of  unborn 
millions  will  now  depend,  under  God,  on  the  Courage  and 
conduct  of  this  Army.  Our  cruel  and  unrelenting  Enemy 
leaves  us  no  choice  but  a  brave  resistance  or  the  most  Abject 
Submission ;  this  is  all  that  we  can  expect.  "We  have  there 
fore  to  resolve  to  conquer  or  die." 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  3. 

At  New  York :  "  Since  I  had  the  honor  of  addressing 
you  and  on  the  same  day  several  ships  more  arrived  within 
the  Hook  making  the  number  that  came  in  then,  110,  and 
there  remains  no  doubt  of  the  whole  of  the  Fleet  from 
Halifax  being  now  here.  Yesterday  Evening  50  of  'em 


1776]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  43 

came  into  the  Bay  and  anchored  on  the  Stateii  Island  side." 
—  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

TUESDAY,  JULY  9. 

At  New  York :  Orderly  Book.—"  The  Honr :  Continental 
Congress,  impelled  by  the  dictates  of  duty,  policy  and  neces 
sity,  having  been  pleased  to  dissolve  the  Connection  which 
subsisted  between  this  Country  and  Great  Britain,  and  to 
declare  the  United  Colonies  of  America  free  and  independent 
STATES,  The  several  brigades  are  to  be  drawn  up  this 
evening  on  their  respective  Parades  at  six  o'clock,  when  the 
declaration  of  Congress,  showing  the  grounds  &  reasons 
of  this  Measure,  is  to  be  read  with  an  audible  voice." 

"  New  York,  10  July  1776. — Agreeably  to  the  request  of  Congress,  I 
caused  the  Declaration  to  be  proclaimed  before  all  the  army  under  my  im 
mediate  command ;  and  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  them,  that  the  measure 
seemed  to  have  their  most  hearty  assent ;  the  expressions  and  behaviour, 
both  of  officers  and  men,  testifying  their  warmest  approbation  of  it."— 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

THURSDAY,  JULY  11. 

At  New  York :  "  General  Howe's  fleet  from  Halifax  has 
arrived,  in  number  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  sail.  His 
army  is  between  nine  and  ten  thousand,  being  joined  by 
some  of  the  regiments  from  the  West  Indies,  and  having 
fallen  in  with  part  of  the  Highland  troops  in  his  passage. 
He  has  landed  his  men  on  Staten  Island,  which  they  mean 
to  secure,  and  is  in  daily  expectation  of  the  arrival  of  Lord 
Howe,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  ships,  with  a  large  and 
powerful  reinforcement." — Washington  to  General  Schuyler. 

"  July  3d. — The  British  troops  landed  on  Staten  Island.  A  part  of  the 
stock  had  been  taken  off.  The  inhabitants,  who  were  about  350  men,  were 
supposed  to  be  generally  opposed  to  the  revolution." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

SUNDAY,  JULY  14. 

At  New  York :  "  General  Sullivan,  in  a  letter  of  the  2d 
instant,  informs  me  of  his  arrival  with  the  army  at  Crown 
Point,  where  he  is  fortifying  and  throwing  up  works.  He 


44  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1776 

adds,  that  he  has  secured  all  the  stores  except  three  cannon 
left  at  Chamblee,  which  in  part  is  made  up  by  taking  a  fine 
twelve-pounder  out  of  the  Lake." —  Washington  to  the  Presi 
dent  of  Congress. 

After  the  failure  of  the  attack  on  Quebec  (December  31,  1775),  and  the 
death  of  Montgomery,  the  command  of  the  forces  in  front  of  that  place 
devolved  upon  Arnold,  who  was  relieved,  April  1,  by  General  Wooster  with 
reinforcements  from  Montreal.  A  month  later  General  Thomas  arrived  at 
the  camp,  and,  hearing  of  the  approach  of  a  large  armament,  land  and 
naval,  to  Quebec,  he  retreated  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  finally  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Sorel,  where  he  found  General  Thompson  with  part  of  the  troops 
detached  by  Washington  from  New  York,  who  were  making  some  prepara 
tions  for  defence.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  he  was  taken  ill  with  the  small 
pox,  and  died  on  the  2d  of  June  at  Chamblee.  On  his  death,  General  Sul 
livan  succeeded  to  the  command,  General  Wooster  having  been  recalled.  By 
this  time  the  force  of  the  enemy  had  increased  to  thirteen  thousand  men, 
several  regiments  having  arrived  from  Ireland,  one  from  England,  another 
from  General  Howe,  and  a  body  of  Brunswick  troops  under  Baron  Keidesel. 
After  the  defeat  of  General  Thompson  at  Three  Rivers  (June  8),  and  being 
joined  by  Arnold  from  Montreal  (June  18),  Sullivan  gradually  fell  back  to 
Crown  Point,  and  the  invasion  of  Canada  came  to  an  end.  On  the  6th  of 
July  Generals  Schuyler  and  Gates  arrived  at  Crown  Point,  and,  that  post 
not  being  considered  tenable,  the  army,  or  what  was  left  of  it,  was  transported 
to  Ticonderoga.  Sullivan,  being  superseded  by  Gates,  joined  the  main  army 
under  Washington. 

MONDAY,  JULY  15. 

At  N"ew  York :  "  Admiral  Howe  arrived  on  Friday  last 
[July  12],  and  we  hourly  expect  his  fleet." — Washington  to 
General  Schuyler. 

11  This  will  be  handed  to  you  by  Mr.  Griffin,  who  has  also  taken  upon  him 
the  charge  and  delivery  of  two  packets  containing  sundry  letters,  which  were 
sent  to  Amboy  yesterday  by  a  flag,  and  forwarded  to  me  to-day  by  General 
Mercer.  The  letter  addressed  to  Governor  Franklin  came  open  to  my 
hands." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress,  July  15. 

These  packets  contained  Lord  Howe's  declaration  of  the  appointment  of 
himself  and  his  brother  as  commissioners  from  the  king,  for  granting  free 
and  general  pardons.  The  letter  to  Governor  Franklin  requested  him  to  give 
publicity  to  the  said  declaration  in  New  Jersey. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  17. 

At  New  York :   "  Yesterday  evening  a  flag  came  from 


1776]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  45 

General  Howe  with  a  letter  addressed  to  '  George  "Washing 
ton,  Esq.,  &c.  &c.'  It  was  not  received,  on  the  same  prin 
ciple  that  the  one  from  Lord  Howe  was  refused." — Wash 
ington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  Lord  Howe,  under  a  flag,  sent  a  ]etter  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  with  tho  superscription  "  To  George  Washington,  Esq.," 
which  was  not  received,  as  it  did  not  acknowledge  the  rank  of  the  General. 
This  action  of  Washington  was  endorsed  by  Congress  in  their  resolution  of 
July  17. 

FKIDAY,  JULY  19. 

At  New  York :  "  We  have  the  enemy  full  in  view,  but 
their  operations  are  to  be  suspended,  till  the  reinforcement 
(hourly  expected)  arrives,  when  I  suppose  there  will  soon  be 
pretty  warm  work.  Lord  Howe  is  arrived.  He  and  the 
General,  his  brother,  are  appointed  commissioners  to  dis 
pense  pardons  to  repenting  sinners." —  Washington  to  General 
Gates. 

"  July.  .  To  my  own  &  Parties  expences  laying  out  Fort  Lee  on  the 
Jersey  side  of  the  N°  Kiver.  .  £8.15." — Washington's  Accounts. 

MONDAY,  JULY  22. 

At  'New  York :  "  "We  have  General  Howe's  present  army, 
consisting,  by  good  report,  of  abt  eight  or  nine  thousand 
men  upon  Staten  Island,  covered  by  their  Ships.  We  have 
Lord  Howe  just  arrived  (that  is  about  10  days  ago),  and  we 
have  ships  now  popping  In,  which  we  suppose  but  do  not 
know,  to  be  part  of  the  Fleet  with  the  expected  Reinforce 
ments.  When  this  arrives,  if  the  Report  of  Deserters, 
Prisoners,  and  Tories  are  to  be  depended  upon,  the  Enemy's 
numbers  will  amount  at  least  to  twenty-five  thousand  men; 
ours  to  about  fifteen  thousand.  More,  indeed,  are  expected, 
but  there  is  no  certainty  of  their  arrival,  as  Harvest  and  a 
thousand  other  excuses  are  urged  as  the  Reasons  of  delay." 
—  Washington  to  John  Augustine  Washington. 

"  July  23.  To  the  Expence  of  Kecon«  the  Country  as  far  as  Perth  Amboy 
.  .  £19.10." — Washington' 3  Accounts. 


46  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1776 

SATURDAY  AUGUST  3. 

At  New  York :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  General  is  sorry  to 
be  informed  that  the  foolish  and  wicked  practice  of  profane 
cursing  and  swearing  (a  Vice  heretofore  but  little  known  in 
an  American  Army),  is  growing  into  fashion ;  he  hopes  the 
officers  will  by  example  as  well  as  influence  endeavour  to 
check  it,  and  that  both  they  and  the  men  will  reflect,  that 
we  can  have  little  hope  of  the  Blessing  of  Heaven  on  our 
Arms,  if  we  insult  it  by  our  impiety  and  folly ;  added  to  this 
it  is  a  vice  so  mean  and  low,  without  any  temptation,  that 
every  man  of  sense  and  character,  detests  and  despises  it." 

WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  7. 

At  New  York :  "By  two  deserters  this  day,  we  have  the 
following  intelligence,  namely,  that  General  Clinton  and 
Lord  Cornwallis  with  the  whole  Southern  army,  have  arrived 
[August  1]  and  landed  on  Staten  Island  from  South  Caro 
lina,  in  number  about  three  or  four  thousand." — Washington 
to  Governor  Trumbull. 

Early  in  January,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  set  sail  from  Boston  to  operate 
against  the  coasts  of  the  southern  provinces,  and  was  joined  at  Cape  Fear, 
May  3,  by  a  considerable  fleet  under  Admiral  Sir  Peter  Parker,  which  had 
sailed  from  England  with  troops  commanded  by  Lord  Cornwallis.  The 
united  forces  proceeded  to  Charleston  Harbor,  to  make  a  combined  attack  by 
land  and  water  upon  Fort  Sullivan,  on  Sullivan's  Island,  and  then  to  seize 
the  city  and  province.  The  fort,  composed  of  palmetto  logs  and  earth,  was 
armed  with  twenty-six  cannons  and  garrisoned  by  about  five  hundred  men, 
chiefly  militia,  under  Colonel  William  Moultrie.  It  commanded  the  chan 
nel  leading  to  Charleston.  The  attack  was  made  on  June  28  with  disastrous 
results  to  the  fleet,  and  three  days  afterwards  the  British  departed  for  New 
York  ;  and  the  fort  so  gallantly  defended  was  called  Fort  Moultrie  in  honor 
of  its  commander. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  13. 

At  New  York :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Enemy's  whole  en 
forcement  is  now  arrived,  so  that  an  attack  must  and  will 
soon  be  made;  the  General  therefore  again  repeats  his 
earnest  request,  that  every  officer  and  soldier  will  have  his 
arms  and  Ammunition  in  good  order,  keep  within  their 


1776]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  47 

quarters  and  encampment,  as  much  as  possible ;  be  ready 
for  action  at  a  moment's  call ;  and  when  called  to  remember 
that  Liberty,  Property,  Life  and  Honor,  are  all  at  stake." 

"  We  must  resolve  to  conquer  or  die  ;  with  this  resolution,  and  the  bless 
ing  of  Heaven,  Victory  and  Success,  certainly  will  attend  us:  There  will 
then  be  a  glorious  issue  to  this  Campaign,  and  the  General  will  reward  his 
brave  Fellow  Soldiers  with  every  Indulgence  in  his  power." — Orderly  Book, 
August  14. 

SUNDAY,  AUGUST  18. 

At  New  York :  "  The  whole  of  the  British  forces  in 
America,  except  those  employed  in  Canada,  are  now  here, 
Clinton's  arrival  being  followed  the  last  week  by  that  of 
Lord  Dunmore,  who  now  forms  part  of  the  army  we  are 
now  to  oppose.  His  coming  has  added  but  little  to  their 
strength." — Washington  to  Governor  Trumbull. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  20. 

At  New  York:  Orderly  Boole. — "General  Sullivan  is  to 
take  command  upon  Long  Island  till  General  Greene's  state 
of  health  will  permit  him  to  resume  it." 

"  I  have  been  obliged  to  appoint  Major-General  Sullivan  to  the  command 
on  the  Island,  owing  to  General  Greene's  indisposition ;  he  has  been  ex 
tremely  ill  for  several  days,  and  still  continues  bad." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress,  August  23. 

FRIDAY,  AUGUST  23. 

At  New  York :  "  Yesterday  morning,  and  in  the  course 
of  the  preceding  night,  a  considerable  body  of  the  enemy, 
amounting  by  report  to  eight  or  nine  thousand,  and  these 
all  British,  landed  from  the  transport-ships  mentioned  in  my 
last,  at  Gravesend  Bay  on  Long  Island,  and  have  approached 
within  three  miles  of  our  lines." — Washington  to  the  President 
of  Congress. 

"  The  Enemy  have  now  landed  on  Long  Island,  and  the  hour  is  fast  ap 
proaching,  on  which  the  Honor  and  Success  of  this  Army,  and  the  Safety  of 
our  Bleeding  Country  will  depend.  Remember,  officers  and  soldiers,  that  you 
are  freemen,  fighting  for  the  blessings  of  Liberty,  that  Slavery  will  be  your 


48  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1776 

portion,  and  that  of  your  posterity,  if  you  do  not  acquit  yourselves  like 
men." — Orderly  Book,  August  23. 

SATURDAY,  AUGUST  24. 

At  Brooklyn,  Long  Island:  General  Putnam  placed  in 
command  upon  Long  Island,  General  Sullivan  retaining  the 
immediate  command  of  all  the  troops  not  within  the  lines 
at  Brooklyn. 

MONDAY,  AUGUST  26. 

At  Brooklyn :  Towards  evening  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
in   company  with   Generals  Putnam,  Sullivan,  and  other 
officers,  rides  down  to  the  outposts  near  Flatbush,  and  ex 
amines  the  position  of  the  enemy. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  27. 

At  Brooklyn :  From  a  hill  within  the  American  lines, 
"Washington  watches  the  Battle  of  Long  Island,  and  wit 
nesses  the  total  rout  of  Stirling's  division  and  the  slaughter 
of  the  Maryland  battalions. 

"  The  height  upon  which  Washington  stood  was  crowned  by  a  redoubt, 
and  occupied  the  block  now  bounded  by  Court,  Clinton,  Atlantic,  and  Pacific 
Streets."— Field,  "  Battle  of  Long  Island." 

WEDNESDAY  AUGUST  28. 

At  Brooklyn :  A  council  of  war,  in  which  it  was  decided 
"  to  give  up  Long  Island,  and  not,  by  dividing  the  force,  be 
unable  to  resist  the  enemy  in  any  one  point  of  attack." 

"The  council  was  held  [at  five  o'clock  in  the  evening]  in  the  stone 
Dutch  church  which  stood  near  the  junction  of  the  present  Fulton  and 
Flatbush  Avenues.  This  church  was  designated  in  the  order  for  the  evening 
as  an  alarm  post  during  the  night,  where  they  might  rendezvous  in  the  event 
of  the  movement  being  discovered  by  the  British." — Lossing,  "  Field-Book," 
ii.  606. 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  29. 

At  Brooklyn  :  "With  the  army  on  its  retreat  from  Long 
Island,  embarking  with  the  last  of  the  troops,  about  six 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  August  30. 


1776]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  49 

"  Long  Island,  29  August,  half-past  four,  A.M. — Before  this,  you  will 
probably  have  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Harrison,  of  the  27th,  advising 
you  of  the  engagement  between  a  detachment  of  our  men  and  the  enemy  on 
that  day.  .  .  There  was  some  skirmishing,  the  greater  part  of  yesterday, 
between  parties  from  the  enemy  and  our  people ;  in  the  evening  it  was 
pretty  smart.  The  weather  of  late  has  been  extremely  wet.  Yesterday  it 
rained  severely  the  whole  afternoon." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Con 
gress. 

SATURDAY,  AUGUST  31. 

At  New  York :  "  Inclination  as  well  as  duty  would  have 
induced  me  to  give  Congress  the  earliest  information  of  my 
removal,  and  that  of  the  troops,  from  Long  Island  and  its 
dependencies,  to  this  city  the  night  before  last;  but  the  ex 
treme  fatigue,  which  myself  and  family  have  undergone,  as 
much  from  the  weather  since,  as  the  engagement  on  the 

'  O      O 

27th,  rendered  me  and  them  entirely  unfit  to  take  pen  in 
hand.  Since  Monday,  scarce  any  of  us  have  been  out  of 
the  lines  till  our  passage  across  the  East  River  was  effected 
yesterday  morning;  and,  for  forty-eight  hours  preceding 
that,  I  had  hardly  been  off  my  horse,  and  never  closed  my 
eyes ;  so  that  I  was  quite  unfit  to  write  or  dictate  till  this 
morning." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  6. 

At  New  York :  "  I  was  last  night  honored  with  your  favor 
of  the  3d,  with  sundry  resolutions  of  Congress ;  and  per 
ceiving  it  to  be  their  opinion  and  determination,  that  no 
damage  shall  be  done  to  the  city  in  case  we  are  obliged  to 
abandon  it,  I  shall  take  every  measure  in  my  power  to  pre 
vent  it." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"In  Congress,  September  3d. — Resolved,  That  General  Washington  be 
acquainted,  that  Congress  would  have  special  care  taken,  in  case  he  should 
find  it  necessary  to  quit  New  York,  that  no  damage  be  done  to  the  said  city 
by  his  troops  on  their  leaving  it :  The  Congress  having  no  doubt  of  being 
able  to  recover  the  same,  though  the  enemy  should  for  a  time  obtain  posses 
sion  of  it." 

SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  7. 

At  N"ew  York :  A  council  of  war,  in  which  it  was  con- 


50  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1776 

eluded  to  arrange  the  army  under  three  divisions, — five 
thousand  to  remain  for  the  defence  of  the  city ;  nine  thou 
sand  at  Kingsbridge  and  its  dependencies;  the  remainder 
to  occupy  the  intermediate  space,  and  support  either. 

THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  12. 

At  New  York :  A  council  of  war,  in  which  it  was  de 
termined  to  abandon  the  city. 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  13. 

At  New  York :  With  the  main  body  of  the  army  moving 
towards  Fort  Washington  and  Kingsbridge. 

Washington  made  the  house  of  Robert  Murray,  near  the  corner  of  the 
present  Thirty-Sixth  Street  and  Fourth  Avenue,  his  head-quarters  on  the 
14th,  and  on  the  15th  he  was  at  Mott's  tavern,  Harlem  Plains.  Early  on 
the  morning  of  the  loth,  the  enemy  landed  some  troops  at  Kip's  Bay,  about 
the  foot  of  the  present  Thirty-fourth  Street,  when  two  brigades  of  Con. 
necticut  troops  (Parsons  and  Fellows),  panic-stricken  at  the  cannonade,  fled 
in  confusion.  Washington,  hearing  the  cannonade,  hurried  to  the  spot,  and 
meeting  the  fugitives,  made  a  vain  attempt  to  rally  them ;  enraged  at  their 
cowardice,  he  rode  into  the  hottest  fire,  and  was  with  difficulty  turned  back 
to  a  place  of  safety. 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  16. 

At  Harlem  Heights :  Battle  of  Harlem  Heights,  during 
which  Washington  was  at  the  Point  of  Rocks  (an  outpost), 
the  present  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Sixth  Street  and 
Ninth  Avenue. 

"  September  16th. — A  little  before  noon,  a  smart  skirmish  happened  on 
the  heights  west  of  Haarlem  Plain,  and  south  of  Morris's  house,  between  a 
party  of  Hessian  Yagers,  British  Light-Infantry  and  Highlanders,  and  the 
American  riflemen  and  some  other  troops,  which  ended  in  favour  of  the 
latter.  The  troops  fought  well,  on  both  sides,  and  gave  great  proof  of  their 
markmanship.  The  Americans  had  several  officers  killed  and  wounded  • 
among  the  former  Lieut.  Col.  Knoulton,  of  the  Connecticut  line,  and  Capt. 
Gleason,  of  Nixon's  Massachusetts  regiment,  two  excellent  officers." — 
Heath's  Memoirs. 

TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  17. 

At  Harlem  Heights :   Orderly  Book. — "  The  General  most 


1776]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  51 

heartily  thanks  the  troops  commanded  yesterday  by  Major 
Leitch,  who  first  advanced  upon  the  enemy,  and  the  others 
who  so  resolutely  supported  them.  The  behavior  of  yester 
day  was  such  a  contrast  to  that  of  some  troops  the  day 
before  [at  Kip's  Bay],  as  must  show  what  may  be  done 
where  Officers  and  Soldiers  exert  themselves." 

"Washington's  head-quarters  at  Harlem  Heights  were  at  the  "  Koger 
Morris  House,"  three  miles  north  of  the  village  of  Harlem,  and  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  south  of  Fort  Washington.  It  was  erected  by  Colonel 
Koger  Morris,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Phillipse,  owner  of  the 
Manor  of  Phillipsburg,  which  comprised  a  great  portion  of  Westchester, 
and  parts  of  Dutchess  and  Putnam  Counties,  New  York.  Morris  adhered 
to  the  Crown,  and  when  the  British  evacuated  New  York,  in  1783,  went  to 
England  with  his  family.  The  house,  which  is  still  standing,  is  almost 
opposite  to  the  intersection  of  Tenth  Avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
first  Street  with  the  old  Kingsbridge  road. 

FKIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  20. 

At  Kingsbridge :  "  September  20th. — The  Commander  in 
Chief,  Maj.  Gen.  Putnam,  and  some  other  officers,  came  up 
to  our  General's  division  [at  Kingsbridge],  and  rode  round 
the  camp,  which,  by  the  return,  given  in  on  the  next  day, 
consisted  of  8771 ;  but  of  these  there  was  1294  sick  present, 
and  1108  sick  absent." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"  Our  numbers,  by  sickness,  desertion,  &c.,  are  greatly  reduced.  I  have 
been  trying  these  four  or  five  days  to  get  a  return,  but  have  not  yet  succeeded. 
I  am  sure,  however,  we  have  not  more  than  twelve  or  fourteen  thousand 
men  fit  for  duty,  whilst  the  enemy,  who,  it  is  said,  are  very  healthy,  cannot 
have  less  than  near  twenty-five  thousand." — Washington  to  John  Augusiine 
Washington,  September  22. 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  22. 

At  Harlem  Heights  :  "  On  Friday  night  [September  20], 
about  eleven  or  twelve  o'clock,  a  fire  broke  out  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  near  the  new,  or  St.  Paul's  church,  as  it  is 
said,  which  continued  to  burn  pretty  rapidly  till  after  sun 
rise  the  next  morning.  I  have  not  been  informed  how  the 
accident  happened,  nor  received  any  certain  account  of  the 


52  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1776 

damage.  Report  says  many  of  the  houses  between  the 
Broadway  and  the  river  were  consumed." —  Washington  to 
the  President  of  Congress. 

On  this  day,  September  22,  Captain  Nathan  Hale,  who  had  volunteered  to 
obtain  information  of  the  strength,  situation,  and  future  movements  of  the 
enemy,  and  who  had  been  taken  on  his  return  with  the  information,  was 
executed  as  a  spy  by  order  of  Sir  William  Howe.  It  is  a  little  singular 
that  the  untimely  fate  of  the  "  Martyr  Spy  of  the  American  Kevolution," 
whose  dying  words,  "/  only  regret  that  I  have  but  one  life  to  lose  for  my 
country,"  form  his  most  fitting  eulogy,  is  nowhere  alluded  to  by  Washington. 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBEE  23. 

At  Harlem  Heights :  "  The  enemy  have  formed  a  large 
encampment  in  the  plains,  or  rather  heights,  below  us,  ex 
tending  across  from  the  East  to  the  l^orth  River ;  but  have 
attempted  nothing  as  yet  of  a  general  nature." — Washington 
to  Governor  Trumbull. 

THUESDAY,  SEPTEMBEE  26. 

At  Harlem  Heights :  In  conference  on  this  and  the  fol 
lowing  day  with  a  committee  of  Congress  appointed  to 
inquire  into  the  state  of  the  army  and  the  best  means  of 
supplying  their  wants.  Committee:  Roger  Sherman,  El- 
bridge  Gerry,  and  Francis  Lewis. 

On  September  28,  in  the  morning,  Washington  crossed  the  North  Eiver, 
"in  order  to  view  the  post  opposite  [Fort  Lee],  and  the  grounds  between 
that  and  Paulus  Hook." 

TUESDAY,  OCTOBEE  8. 

At  Harlem  Heights :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  General,  to 
prevent  any  plea  of  ignorance,  again  repeats  his  order 
against  all  kinds  of  Gaming,  as  destructive  and  pernicious 
to  the  service.  He  hopes  the  officers  will  set  no  examples 
of  this  kind,  and  that  they  will  punish  it  among  the  men." 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBEE  13. 

At  Harlem  Heights :  "  Yesterday  the  enemy  landed  at 
Frog's  Point,  about  nine  miles  from  hence,  further  up  the 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  53 

Sound.  Their  number  we  cannot  ascertain,  as  they  have 
not  advanced  from  the  Point,  which  is  a  kind  of  island,  but 
the  water  that  surrounds  it  is  fordable  at  low  tide." — Wash 
ington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  As  the  Enemy  seems  now  to  be  endeavoring  to  strike  some  stroke,  be 
fore  the  close  of  the  Campaign,  the  General  most  earnestly  conjures,  both 
officers  and  men,  if  they  have  any  Love  for  their  Country,  and  Concern  for 
its  Liberties ;  regard  to  the  safety  of  their  Parents,  Wives,  Children  and 
Countrymen,  that  they  will  act  with  Bravery,  and  Spirit,  becoming  the 
Cause  in  which  they  are  engaged," — Orderly  Book,  October  13. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBEE  16. 

At  General  Lee's  Quarters,  Kingsbridge  :  *  A  council  of 
war,  in  which  it  was  determined,  in  consequence  of  the 
enemy  having  landed  the  main  body  of  their  army  at  Frog's 
or  Throck's  Point  (in  the  American  rear),  that  the  forces 
should  be  withdrawn  into  Westchester  County,  leaving  suffi 
cient  garrison  to  defend  Fort  Washington  and  its  dependen 
cies. 

Washington  retained  his  head-quarters  at  Harlem  Heights  until  October 
21,  when  he  moved  to  Valentine's  Hill,  Westchester  County,  and  on  the 
23d  established  himself  at  White  Plains,  twenty-six  miles  northeast  of  New 
York. 

MONDAY,  OCTOBER  21. 

At  Valentine's  Hill :  "  October  21st. — At  about  4  o'clock, 
P.M.  our  General's  [Heath's]  division  moved  from  above 
Kingsbridge,  having,  besides  their  light  field-pieces,  two 
heavy  iron  twelve-pounders.  About  8  o'clock  in  the  eve 
ning,  they  passed  Gen.  Lincoln's  quarters,  on  Volentine's 
Hill,  where  the  Commander  in  Chief  was  to  spend  the 
night.  Our  General  [Heath]  waited  upon  him,  to  know  if 
he  had  any  particular  commands  for  him." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

TUESDAY,  OCTOBER  22. 

At  Valentine's  Hill:    "I  am  confident  your  own  good 

*  General  Lee  joined  the  main  army  October  14;  he  took  command  of 
the  troops  at  Kingsbridge  on  the  16th. 


54  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1776 

sense,  zeal,  and  activity  will  suggest  to  you  the  most  prob 
able  means  of  making  amends  for  the  heavy  loss  we  have 
sustained  by  the  destruction  of  General  Arnold's  fleet  upon 
Lake  Champlain." — Washington  to  General  Schuyler. 

On  the  llth  of  October,  General  Arnold,  in  command  of  a  flotilla  consist 
ing  of  three  schooners,  two  sloops,  three  galleys,  and  eight  gondolas,  was 
attacked  near  Valcour  Island,  Lake  Champlain,  by  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  com 
manding  a  strong  armament  of  between  twenty  and  thirty  sail.  Arnold 
succeeded  in  evading  the  enemy  during  the  night,  and  finally  with  a  small 
remnant  of  his  squadron  reached  Crown  Point,  from  whence  he  made  sail  for 
Ticonderoga.  Carleton,  after  making  several  feints  against  the  fort,  returned 
to  St.  Johns,  and  cantoned  his  troops  for  the  winter. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  23. 

At  "White  Plains :  "While  the  main  army  in  four  divisions, 
under  Generals  Lee,  Heath,  Sullivan,  and  Lincoln,  was 
moving  slowly  up  the  western  side  of  the  Bronx  Eiver  to 
"White  Plains,  "Washington  was  almost  the  whole  time  on 
horseback,  reconnoitring  the  grounds,  forming  posts,  and 
choosing  sites  for  breastworks  and  redoubts. 

MONDAY,  OCTOBER  28. 

At  "White  Plains :  Battle  of  "White  Plains,  or  Chatterton's 
Hill. 

Chatterton's  Hill,  where  the  battle  was  fought,  sixteen  hundred  Americans 
being  engaged,  is  a  commanding  eminence  west  of  the  Bronx  Kiver,  about  a 
mile  from  White  Plains.  Washington's  head-quarters,  at  the  "Miller 
House,"  were  to  the  north  of  the  village,  and  east  of  that  stream,  the  main 
body  of  the  army  being  intrenched  two  miles  beyond. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  30. 

At  "White  Plains :  Visits  the  several  posts  of  the  army. 

On  the  night  of  the  31st  of  October,  General  Washington  withdrew  his 
army  to  a  very  strong  position  upon  the  heights  of  North  Castle,  about  two 
miles  in  the  rear  of  his  first  encampment,  and  five  from  White  Plains,  where 
he  caused  new  works  of  defence  to  be  thrown  up. 

WEDNESDAY,  NOVEMBER  6. 

At  "White  Plains :  "  Yesterday  morning  the  enemy  made 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  55 

a  sudden  and  unexpected  movement  from  the  several  posts 
they  had  taken  in  our  front.  They  broke  up  their  whole 
encampments  the  preceding  night  and  have  advanced  to 
wards  Kingsbridge  and  the  North  River.  .  .  In  consequence 
of  this  movement  I  called  a  council  of  general  officers  to-day 
to  consult  on  such  measures  as  should  be  adopted  in  case 
they  pursued  their  retreat  to  New  York." — Washington  to 
the  President  of  Congress. 

The  council  agreed  unanimously,  that,  in  case  the  enemy  were  retreating 
towards  New  York,  it  would  be  proper  immediately  to  throw  a  body  of 
troops  into  Jersey ;  that  those  raised  on  the  west  side  of  Hudson's  River 
should  be  detached  for  this  purpose,  and  that  three  thousand  men  should  be 
stationed  at  Peekskill  and  the  passes  of  the  Highlands. 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  10. 

At  White  Plains :  "  The  late  movement  of  the  Enemy, 
and  the  probability  of  their  having  designs  upon  the  Jerseys, 
(confirmed  by  sundry  accounts  from  deserters  and  prisoners), 
rendering  it  necessary  to  throw  a  body  of  troops  over  the 
North  River,  I  shall  immediately  follow,  and  the  command 
of  the  army,  which  remains,  (after  General  Heath's  division 
marches  to  Peekskill,)  will  devolve  upon  you." —  Washington 
to  General  Lee. 

Washington  left  "White  Plains  at  eleven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  No 
vember  10,  and  arrived  at  Peekskill,  the  entrance  to  the  Highlands,  at 
sunset. 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER  11. 

At  Peekskill,  New  York:  "November  llth.— The  Com 
mander  in  Chief  directed  our  General  [Heath]  to  attend 
him  in  taking  a  view  of  Fort  Montgomery,  and  the  other 
works  up  the  river.  Lord  Sterling,  Generals  James  and 
George  Clinton,  Gen.  Mifflin  and  others  were  of  the  com 
pany.  They  went  as  far  up  the  river  as  Constitution  Island, 
which  is  opposite  to  West-Point,  the  latter  of  which  was 
not  then  taken  possession  of;  but  the  glance  of  the  eye  at 
it,  without  going  on  shore,  evinced  that  this  post  was  not  to 


56  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1776 

be  neglected.  There  was  a  small  work  and  a  block  house 
on  Constitution  Island.  Fort  Montgomery  was  in  consider 
able  forwardness." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  12. 

At  Peekskill :  Reconnoitres  the  eastern  side  of  the  Hud 
son,  from  Peekskill  to  the  mountains,  with  General  Heath, 
and  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  crosses  the  river  at 
King's  Ferry,  into  the  Jerseys. 

THURSDAY,  NOVEMBER  14. 

At  Fort  Lee,  New  Jersey :  "  I  have  the  honor  to  inform 
you  of  my  arrival  here  yesterday,  and  that  the  whole  of  the 
troops  belonging  to  the  States,  which  lay  south  of  Hudson's 
River,  and  which  were  in  the  New  York  government,  have 
passed  over  to  this  side,  except  the  regiment  lately  Colonel 
Smallwood's  which  I  expect  is  now  on  their  march." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

Fort  Lee,  Bergen  County,  New  Jersey,  was  situated  upon  a  sort  of 
plateau,  three  hundred  feet  above  the  Hudson  River  (the  Palisades),  opposite 
the  present  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  Street  of  New  York,  and  a  short 
distance  below  Fort  Washington.  The  army  having  gone  into  camp  at 
Hackensack,  five  miles  northwest  of  the  Fort,  Washington  established  his 
head-quarters  at  that  place,  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Peter  Zabriskie. 

SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  16. 

At  Fort  Lee :  "  This  day  about  twelve  o'clock,  the  enemy 
made  a  general  attack  upon  our  lines  about  Fort  Washing 
ton,  which  having  carried,  the  garrison  retired  within  the 
fort.  Colonel  Magaw  finding  there  was  no  prospect  of  re 
treating  across  the  North  River,  surrendered  the  post.  The 
force  of  the  garrison,  before  the  attack  was  about  two  thou 
sand  men." —  Washington  to  General  Lee. 

Washington  was  at  head-quarters  at  Hackensack  on  November  15,  when 
he  was  informed  of  the  movement  on  Fort  Washington.  He  immediately 
went  to  Fort  Lee,  and  had  partly  crossed  the  North  River,  when  he  met 
Generals  Greene  and  Putnam,  who  were  returning  from  the  Fort,  who  stated 
that  the  troops  were  in  high  spirits,  and  would  make  a  good  defence ;  it 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  57 

being  late  at  night,  he  returned  to  Fort  Lee.  On  the  morning  of  the  16th, 
in  company  with  Generals  Putnam,  Greene,  Mercer,  and  other  principal 
officers,  Washington  again  crossed  the  river  to  the  old  head-quarters  at  the 
"  Koger  Morris  House,"  from  whence  he  surveyed  the  scene  of  operations. 
Having  remained  a  short  time,  he  retired.  Fifteen  minutes  later  the  British 
troops  took  possession  of  the  very  spot  on  which  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
with  the  officers,  had  been  standing. 

TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  19. 

At  Hackensack,  New  Jersey :  "  This  [the  surrender  of 
Fort  Washington]  is  a  most  unfortunate  affair,  and  has 
given  me  great  mortification ;  as  we  have  lost  not  only  two 
thousand  men  that  were  there,  but  a  good  deal  of  artillery, 
and  some  of  the  best  arms  we  had.  And  what  adds  to  my 
mortification  is,  that  this  post,  after  the  last  ships  went  past 
it,  was  held  contrary  to  my  wishes  and  opinion,  as  I  con 
ceived  it  to  be  a  hazardous  one." —  Washington  to  John  Au 
gustine  Washington. 

THUKSDAY,  NOVEMBER  21. 

At  Hackensack :  "  Yesterday  morning  the  Enemy  landed 
a  large  Body  of  troops  below  Dobbs'  Ferry,  and  advanced 
very  rapidly  to  the  Fort  called  by  your  Name  [Fort  Lee]. 
I  immediately  went  over,  and,  as  the  Fort  was  not  tenable 
on  this  side,  and  we  were  in  a  narrow  neck  of  land,  the 
passes  out  of  which  the  enemy  were  attempting  to  seize,  I 
directed  the  Troops  to  move  over  to  the  west  side  of  Hack 
ensack  River." —  Washington  to  General  Lee. 

Washington,  finding  that  the  army  was  in  some  danger  of  being  pent  up 
between  the  Hackensack  and  Passaic  Ilivers,  moved,  on  the  21st,  to  the  west 
side  of  the  Passaic,  crossing  at  Acquackanoc  bridge.  The  retreat  through 
the  Jerseys  begins,  in  which  "  often  the  music  of  the  pursued  and  the  pur 
suers  would  be  heard  by  each  other,  yet  no  action  occurred." 

SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  23. 

At  Newark,  New  Jersey :  "  The  situation  of  our  affairs 
is  truly  critical,  and  such  as  requires  uncommon  exertions 
on  our  part.  From  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  and  the 


58  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1776 

information  we  have  received,  they  certainly  will  make  a 
push  to  possess  themselves  of  this  part  of  the  Jerseys.  In 
order  that  you  may  be  fully  apprized  of  our  weakness,  and 
of  the  necessity  there  is  of  our  obtaining  early  succors,  I 
have  by  the  advice  of  the  general  officers  here,  directed 
General  Mifflin  to  wait  on  you." — Washington  to  the  President 
of  Congress. 

"Washington  arrived  at  Newark  on  the  evening  of  the  22d,  and  remained 
until  the  morning  of  the  28th,  the  advance-guard  of  the  British  army  enter 
ing  the  town  as  his  rear-guard  left  it ;  the  next  day  he  arrived  at  New 
Brunswick. 

SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  30. 

At  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey  :  "  On  Thursday  morn 
ing  I  left  Newark,  and  arrived  here  yesterday  with  the 
troops  that  were  there.  It  was  the  opinion  of  all  the  gen 
erals,  who  were  with  me,  that  a  retreat  to  this  place  was 
requisite  and  founded  in  necessity." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  1. 

At  New  Brunswick :  "  The  enemy  are  advancing,  and 
have  got  as  far  as  "Woodbridge  and  Amboy,  and,  from  in 
formation  not  to  be  doubted,  they  mean  to  push  for  Phila 
delphia.  The  force  I  have  with  me  is  infinitely  inferior  in 
numbers,  and  such  as  cannot  give  or  promise  the  least  suc 
cessful  opposition." — Washington  to  General  Lee. 

"  Two  brigades  left  us  at  Brunswick  [by  expiration  of  service],  notwith 
standing  the  enemy  were  within  two  hours  march  and  coming  on.  The  loss 
of  these  troops  at  this  critical  time  reduced  his  Excellency  to  the  necessity 
to  order  a  retreat  again.  When  we  left  Brunswick,  we  had  not  3000  men." 
— General  Greene  to  Governor  Cooke,  December  4. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  2. 

At  Princeton,  New  Jersey :  "  I  arrived  here  this  morning 
with  our  troops  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock." — Washing 
ton  to  the  President  of  Congress. 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  59 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  3. 

At  Trenton,  New  Jersey :  "  I  arrived  here  myself  yester 
day  morning,  with  the  main  body  of  the  army,  having  left 
Lord  Stirling  with  two  brigades  at  Princeton  and  that 
neighborhood,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy  and  give 
notice  of  their  approach.  .  .  Immediately  on  my  arrival 
here,  I  ordered  the  removal  of  all  the  military  and  other 
stores  and  baggage  over  the  Delaware ;  a  great  quantity  is 
already  got  over." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

Thomas  Paine,  who  was  "  with  the  troops  at  Fort  Lee,  and  marched  with 
them  to  the  edge  of  Pennsylvania,"  referring  in  the  first  paper  of  his  Amer 
ican  Crisis*  to  the  retreat  through  the  Jerseys,  wrote:  "I  shall  not  now 
attempt  to  give  all  the  particulars  of  our  retreat  to  the  Delaware.  Suffice  it, 
for  the  present  to  say,  that  both  officers  and  men,  though  greatly  harassed 
and  fatigued,  frequently  without  rest,  covering,  or  provision,  the  inevitable 
consequences  of  a  long  retreat,  bore  it  with  a  manly  and  a  martial  spirit. 
All  their  wishes  were  one ;  which  was,  that  the  country  would  turn  out,  and 
help  them  to  drive  the  enemy  back.  Voltaire  has  remarked,  that  King 
William  never  appeared  to  full  advantage,  but  in  difficulties  and  in  action. 
The  same  remark  may  be  made  on  General  Washington,  for  the  character 
fits  him.  There  is  a  natural  firmness  in  some  minds,  which  cannot  be  un 
locked  by  trifles,  but  which,  when  unlocked,  discovers  a  cabinet  of  fortitude 
and  I  reckon  it  among  those  kind  of  public  blessings  which  we  do  not  im 
mediately  see,  that  God  hath  blessed  him  with  uninterrupted  health,  and 
given  him  a  mind  that  can  even  flourish  upon  care." 

THURSDAY,  DECEMBER  5. 

At  Trenton  :  "  I  shall  this  day  reinforce  Lord  Stirling  [at 
Princeton]  with  about  twelve  hundred  men,  which  will 
make  his  number  about  two  thousand  four  hundred.  To 
morrow  I  mean  to  repair  to  Princeton  myself,  and  shall 
order  the  Pennsylvania  troops,  who  are  not  yet  arrived,  ex 
cept  part  of  the  German  battalion  and  a  company  of  light 
infantry,  to  the  same  place.  By  last  advices,  the  enemy  are 
still  at  Brunswic ;  and  the  account  adds,  that  General  Howe 
was  expected  at  Elizabethtown  with  a  reinforcement,  to 

*  Published  at  Philadelphia  in  December,  1776.  This  is  the  paper  com 
mencing  with  the  well-known  words :  "  THESE  ABE  THE  TIMES  THAT  TRY 
MEN'S  SOULS." 


60  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1776 

erect  the  King's  standard,  and  demand  submission  of  this 
State." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

FRIDAY,  DECEMBER  6. 

At  Trenton :  "  To-day  I  shall  set  out  for  Princeton  myself, 
unless  something  should  occur  to  prevent  me,  which  I  do 
not  expect." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  8. 

At  Mr.  Berkeley's  Summer-Seat,  Pennsylvania :  "  Colonel 
Reed  would  inform  you  of  the  intelligence,  which  I  first 
met  with  on  the  road  from  Trenton  to  Princeton  yesterday. 
Before  I  got  to  the  latter,  I  received  a  second  express  in 
forming  me,  that,  as  the  enemy  were  advancing  by  different 
routes,  and  attempting  by  one  to  get  in  the  rear  of  our 
troops,  which  were  there,  and  whose  numbers  were  small, 
and  the  place  by  no  means  defensible,  they  had  judged  it 
prudent  to  retreat  to  Trenton.  The  retreat  was  accordingly 
made,  and  since  to  this  side  of  the  river.  .  .  In  the  dis 
ordered  and  moving  state  of  the  army,  I  cannot  get  returns  ; 
but,  from  the  best  accounts,  we  had  between  three  thousand 
and  three  thousand  five  hundred  men,  before  the  Philadel 
phia  militia  and  German  battalion  arrived ;  they  amount  to 
about  two  thousand." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

Washington  crossed  the  Delaware  at  Trenton  with  the  rear-guard  of  the 
army,  early  in  the  morning  of  the  8th,  and  about  eleven  o'clock  the  same 
morning,  the  British  came  marching  down  to  the  river,  expecting  to  cross, 
but  no  boats  were  within  reach,  all  having  been  collected  and  secured  on  the 
west  bank. 

The  house  in  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania,  from  which  the  above-quoted 
letter  was  written,  was  owned  by  Thomas  Barclay,* — not  Berkeley,  as  given 

*  Thomas  Barclay,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Philadelphia,  was  an  Irishman 
by  birth.  He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  "  The  Society  of  the 
Friendly  Sons  of  St.  Patrick,"  organized  at  Philadelphia  in  1771,  the  parent 
of  the  present  "Hibernian  Society,"  and  its  president  from  June  17,  1779, 
to  June  17,  1781.  In  1780,  Mr.  Barclay  subscribed  five  thousand  pounds  to 
the  Pennsylvania  Bank,  an  institution  "established  for  furnishing  a  supply 
of  provisions  for  the  armies  of  the  United  States." 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  61 

by  Washington.  Mr.  Barclay  purchased  the  property,  containing  two  hun 
dred  and  twenty-one  acres,  in  April,  1773,  and  it  is  presumed  that  he  erected 
the  house.  In  November,  1791,  the  premises,  known  as  "Summer  Seat," 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Kobert  Morris,  the  Financier  of  the  Kevolution 
The  house,  which  is  still  standing,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  Delaware,  in 
Morrisville,  opposite  Trenton,  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  John  H.  Os- 
borne.  These  head-quarters  were  retained  until  December  14. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  9. 

At  Barclay's :  "  General  Mifflin  is  this  moment  come  up, 
and  tells  me,  that  all  the  military  stores  yet  remain  in  Phila 
delphia.  This  makes  the  immediate  fortifying  of  the  city 
so  necessary,  that  I  have  desired  General  Mifflin  to  return 
and  take  charge  of  the  stores ;  and  have  ordered  Major- 
General  Putnam  immediately  down  to  superintend  the  works 
and  give  the  necessary  directions." —  Washington  to  the  Presi 
dent  of  Congress. 

THURSDAY,  DECEMBER  12. 

At  Barclay's :  "  You  are  to  post  your  Brigade  at  and  near 
Bristol.  Col.  Nixon's  Regiment  to  continue  where  it  is  at 
Dunk's  Ferry  [below  Bristol]." —  Washington  to  Colonel  Cad- 
walader. 

FRIDAY,  DECEMBER  13. 

At  Barclay's :  "  I  shall  remove  further  up  the  River  to  be 
near  the  Main  body  of  my  Small  Army,  with  which  every 
possible  opposition  shall  be  given  to  any  further  approach 
of  the  Enemy  towards  Philadelphia." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

"On  the  14th,  "Washington  moved  to  the  farm-house  of  William  Keith, 
built  in  1763,  and  still  standing,  on  the  road  from  Brownsburg  to  the  Eagle 
tavern.  These  quarters  were  retained  until  December  25.  Here  he  was 
near  the  upper  fords  of  the  Delaware,  at  which  it  was  supposed  the  enemy 
would  attempt  to  cross,  and  within  a  half-hour's  ride  of  Newtown,  the  depot 
of  supplies." — W.  W.  H.  Davis,  "  Pennsylvania  Magazine,"  iv.  133. 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  15. 

At  Keith's :  "  With  the  utmost  regret  I  must  inform  you 


62  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1776 

of  the  loss  our  army  has  sustained  by  the  captivity  of  Gen 
eral  Lee,  who  was  made  a  prisoner  on  the  morning  of  the 
13th  by  a  party  of  seventy  of  the  enemy's  light-horse,  near 
a  place  called  Vealtown,  in  the  Jerseys." — Washington  to  the 
Council  of  Safety  of  Pennsylvania. 

Notwithstanding  many  earnest  appeals  and  orders  from  Washington  to 
join  the  main  army,  Lee,  who  had  been  left  at  North  Castle,  New  York, 
with  a  force  of  three  thousand  men,  so  delayed  his  start,  and  moved  so 
slowly  when  started,  that  he  only  reached  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  on  the 
llth  of  December,  having  crossed  the  Hudson  on  the  4th.  On  the  12th  the 
troops  were  marched  to  Vealtown,  now  Bernards ville,  eight  miles  distant, 
and  Lee  took  up  his  quarters  three  miles  off,  at  Mrs.  White's  tavern,  at  the 
village  of  Basking  Kidge,  where  he  was  taken  prisoner  the  following  morn 
ing.  General  Lee  was  not  exchanged  until  April  21,  1778;  he  rejoined  the 
army  at  Valley  Forge,  May  20. 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER  18. 

At  Keith's :  "  Since  I  came  on  this  side,  I  have  been 
joined  by  about  two  thousand  of  the  city  militia,  and  I 
understand,  that  some  of  the  country  militia  (from  the  back 
counties),  are  on  their  way.  But  we  are  in  a  very  disaffected 
part  of  the  Province ;  and,  between  you  and  me,  I  think 
our  affairs  are  in  a  very  bad  situation.  .  .  You  can  form  no 
idea  of  the  perplexity  of  my  situation.  N"o  man,  I  believe, 
ever  had  a  greater  choice  of  difficulties,  and  less  means  to 
extricate  himself  from  them.  However,  under  a  full  per 
suasion  of  the  justice  of  our  cause,  I  cannot  entertain  an 
Idea,  that  it  will  finally  sink,  tho'  it  may  remain  for  some 
time  under  a  cloud." — Washington  to  John  Augustine  Wash 
ington. 

FRIDAY,  DECEMBER  20. 

At  Camp  above  Trenton  Falls :  "  The  division  of  the 
army,  lately  under  the  command  of  General  Lee,  now  of 
General  Sullivan,  is  just  upon  the  point  of  joining  us.  .  . 
General  Gates,  with  four  eastern  regiments  is  also  near  at 
hand. — P.  S.  Generals  Gates  and  Sullivan  have  this  instant 
come  in." — Washington  to  the' President  of  Congress. 


1776]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  63 

By  the  adjutant's  return  on  the  22d  of  December,  the  army  under  Wash 
ington  amounted  to  10,106  men,  rank  and  file.  Of  this  number  5399  were 
sick  on  command,  and  on  furlough;  leaving  an  immediate  effective  force 
of  4707.  But  this  return  did  not  include  the  four  regiments  just  arrived 
from  the  northern  army,  nor  Lee's  division,  now  commanded  by  Sullivan, 
nor  the  Pennsylvania  militia,  under  General  Cadwalader,  at  Bristol.  The 
four  regiments,  having  been  greatly  reduced  by  disease,  amounted  to  about 
twelve  hundred,  Cadwalader's  militia  to  eighteen  hundred,  and  Sullivan's 
division  to  about  three  thousand. 


MONDAY,  DECEMBER  23. 

At  Camp  above  Trenton  Falls  :  "  Christmas  day  at  night, 
one  hour  before  day,  is  the  time  fixed  upon  for  our  attempt 
on  Trenton.  For  Heaven's  sake  keep  this  to  yourself,  as 
the  discovery  of  it  may  prove  fatal  to  us." —  Washington  to 
Colonel  Cadwalader. 

Four  brigades,  under  Generals  Stirling,  Mercer,  Stephen,  and  Do  Fermoy, 
had  been  posted  on  the  Delaware  to  guard  the  fords  above  Trenton,  the 
troops  being  stationed  at  the  crossings  from  Yardley's  up  to  Coryell's  Ferry, 
now  New  Hope.  This  and  the  letter  of  December  20  were  written  from 
one  of  these  camps,  probably  that  of  Lord  Stirling,  at  Beaumont's,  eleven 
miles  up  the  river,  which  "Washington  had  also  visited  on  the  10th.  The 
Commander-in-Chief  returned  to  head-quarters  at  Keith's  on  the  evening  of 
December  24. 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER  25. 

At  McKonkey's  Ferry,  on  the'  Delaware :  Crosses  the 
river  a  little  before  midnight,  the  transportation  of  the 
troops,  about  two  thousand  four  hundred,  being  completed 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  26th.  Marches  with 
the  army  to  Trenton,  New  Jersey. 

The  command  was  formed  into  two  divisions  under  Generals  Sullivan  and 
Greene,  one  to  march  by  the  lower  or  river  road,  the  other  by  the  upper  or 
Pennington  road.  Washington  marched  with  the  upper  division  under 
Greene,  which  arrived  at  the  enemy's  advanced  post  at  eight  o'clock,  a  few 
minutes  earlier  than  the  lower  division.  McKonkey's  Ferry,  now  Taylors- 
ville,  on  the  Pennsylvania  side  of  the  river,  and  designated  on  the  Jersey 
shore  as  "  Washington's  Crossing,"  is  about  nine  miles  above  Trenton.  A 
bridge  nine  hundred  feet  long  now  takes  the  place  of  the  old  ferry. 


64  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1776 

THUESDAT,  DECEMBEE  26. 

At  Trenton :  Surprises  the  Hessians,  who,  after  a  short 
and  decisive  engagement,  surrender,  and  recrosses  the  river 
the  same  evening,  with  nearly  a  thousand  prisoners,  the 
same  number  of  arms,  and  several  cannon. 

FEIDAY,  DECEMBEE  27. 

At  BTewtown,  Pennsylvania :  "  I  have  the  pleasure  of  con 
gratulating  you  upon  the  success  of  an  enterprise,  which  I 
had  formed  against  a  detachment  of  the  enemy  lying  in 
Trenton,  and  which  was  executed  yesterday  morning." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

Newtown,  where  Washington  made  his  head-quarters  after  the  tattle  of 
Trenton,  then  the  county-seat  of  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania,  is  about  five 
miles  west  of  the  Delaware  River,  and  about  the  same  distance  southwest  of 
Taylorsville.  The  house  occupied  was  the  property  of  John  Harris  ;  it  was 
retained  by  Washington  as  his  quarters  until  December  29,  when  he  set  out 
to  recross  the  Delaware. 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBEE  29. 

At  Newtown :  "  I  am  just  setting  out  to  attempt  a  second 
passage  over  the  Delaware,  with  the  troops  that  were  with 
me  on  the  morning  of  the  26th." — Washington  to  the  Presi 
dent  of  Congress. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBEE  30. 

At  Trenton :  This  morning  Washington  crossed  the  Dela 
ware  at  McKonkey's  Ferry,  in  advance  of  the  troops,  and 
proceeded  to  Trenton. 

Washington's  head-quarters  at  Trenton  were  at  the  house  of  Major  John 
Barnes  (a  Loyalist),  on  the  west  side  of  Queen,  now  Greene  Street,  a  short 
distance  north  of  the  Assunpink  Creek.  These  quarters  he  retained  until 
January  2,  when  he  moved  to  the  "  True  American  Inn,"  on  the  south  side 
of  the  creek. 


1777- 


WEDNESDAY,  JANTJAKY  1. 

At  Trenton  :  "  On  Monday  morning  [December  30, 1776,1 
I  passed  the  Delaware  myself;  the  whole  of  our  troops  and 

artillery  not  till  yesterday,  owing  to  the  ice,  which  rendered 
their  passage  extremely  difficult  and  fatiguing.  .  .  General 
Mifflin  is  at  Bordentown  with  about  eighteen  hundred  men, 
and  General  Cadwalader  at  Crosswicks  with  about  the  same 
number." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

The  troops  under  Generals  Mifflin  and  Cadwalader,  composed  of  Pennsyl 
vania  militia,  joined  the  main  army  at  Trenton  by  a  night  march,  on  the  1st. 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  2. 

At  Trenton  :  The  enemy,  who  were  in  force  at  Princeton, 
under  Lord  Cornwallis,  advanced  during  the  day,  the  head 
of  their  column  reaching  Trenton  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  After  making  several  attempts  from  the  north, 
to  cross  a  small  bridge  spanning  the  Assunpink  Creek,  to 
the  south  of  which  the  army  was  encamped,  they  halted  for 
the  night.  Washington,  having  discovered  by  this  time  that 
they  were  greatly  superior  in  number,  called  a  council  of 
war,  in  which  it  was  decided  to  abandon  the  Delaware,  and 
by  marching  silently  in  the  night  gain  the  rear  of  the  troops 
still  at  Princeton,  and,  if  possible,  strike  a  blow  at  N"ew 
Brunswick,  the  depository  of  the  British  stores.  Accord 
ingly,  after  renewing  all  the  fires,  the  army  left  its  position 
at  midnight,  and  by  a  circuitous  route  reached  Princeton, 
ten  miles  distant,  about  sunrise  of  the  3d. 

The  council  of  war  was  held  at  the  Douglas  House,  nearly  two  squares 
south  of  the  creek,  on  ground  now  occupied  by  the  German  Lutheran 
Church. 

6  65 


66  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1777 

FRIDAY,  JANUARY  3. 

At  the  battle  of  Princeton :  The  seventeenth  and  fifty- 
fifth  regiments  of  the  British  brigade,  commanded  by  Colo 
nel  Mawhood,  being  defeated,  the  former  retreated  towards 
Trenton,  and  the  latter  to  New  Brunswick,  as  did  also  the 
fortieth,  which  took  little  part  in  the  action. 

Washington  pursued  the  enemy  as  far  as  Kingston,  beyond  the  Millstone 
River,  three  miles  northeast  of  Princeton,  and  then  filing  off  to  the  left, 
after  destroying  the  bridge,  marched  to  Somerset  Court-house,  now  Mill 
stone,  where  the  troops  bivouacked  for  the  night.  "  Washington  and  some 
of  his  staff  quartered  at  the  residence  of  John  Van  Doren,  just  south  of  the 
village;  the  house  is  still  standing,  as  is  the  barn  in  which  the  general's 
horse  was  stabled."*  In  the  morning  the  army  continued  the  march  over 
the  hills  to  Pluckamin,  twenty  miles  north  of  Princeton,  which  place  was 
reached  during  the  afternoon. 

When  Horace  Walpole  heard  of  the  affair  at  Trenton,  and  Washington's 
night  march  to  Princeton,  he  wrote  to  Sir  Horace  Mann  :  "  Washington  the 
dictator,  has  shown  himself  both  a  .Fabius  and  a  Camillus.  His  march 
through  our  lines  is  allowed  to  have  been  a  prodigy  of  generalship." 

SUNDAY,  JANUARY  6. 

At  Pluckamin,  New  Jersey :  "  Fortune  has  favored  us  in 
an  attack  on  Princeton.  .  .  .  Three  regiments  of  British 
troops  were  quartered  there,  which  we  attacked  and  routed. 
The  number  of  the  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners  amounts 
to  about  five  or  six  hundred.  .  .  .  After  the  action  we  im 
mediately  marched  for  this  place.  I  shall  remove  from, 
hence  to  Morristown." —  Washington  to  General  Putnam. 

"January  5th,  1777. — This  morning  the  General  ordered  40  of  our  Light 
Infantry  to  attend  the  funeral  of  Col.  Leslie  one  of  the  enemy  [wounded  at 
Princeton],  to  bury  him  with  the  honors  of  war." — Diary  of  Captain  Thomas 
Rodney,  "  Papers  of  the  Hist.  Soc.  of  Delaware,"  viii. 

MONDAY,  JANUARY  6. 

At  Morristown,  ISTew  Jersey:  "January  6th. — We  left 
Pluckemin  this  morning  and  arrived  at  Morristown  just 
before  sunset." — Diary  of  Captain  Thomas  Rodney. 

*  The  "  Story  of  an  Old  Farm,"  by  Andrew  D.  Mellick,  p.  382. 


1777]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  67 

At  Momstown,  Washington  made  his  head-quarters  at  a  tavern  owned 
and  kept  by  Colonel  Jacob  Arnold,  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  Public 
Square.  It  was  a  frame  building,  which  was  removed  in  1886. 

SATUKDAY,  JANUARY  18. 

At  Morristown :  "  The  enemy  by  two  lucky  strokes,  at 
Trenton  and  Princeton,  have  been  obliged  to  abandon  every 
part  of  Jersey  except  Brunswic  and  Amboy,  and  the  small 
tract  of  country  between  them,  which  is  so  entirely  exhausted 
of  supplies  of  every  kind,  that  I  hope,  by  preventing  them 
from  sending  their  foraging  parties  to  any  great  distance,  to 
reduce  them  to  the  utmost  distress,  in  the  course  of  this 
winter." — Washington  to  General  Schuyler. 

MONDAY,  JANUARY  20. 

At  Morristown  :  "  Our  affairs  here  are  in  a  very  prosper 
ous  train.  "Within  a  month  past,  in  several  engagements 
with  the  enemy,  we  have  killed,  wounded,  and  taken  pris 
oners  between  two  and  three  thousand  men.  I  am  very 
confident,  that  the  enemy's  loss  here  will  oblige  them  to 
recall  their  force  from  your  State." — Washington  to  Governor 
Cooke,  of  Rhode  Island. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1776,  the  squadron  of  Sir  Peter  Parker,  bearing 
between  eight  and  ten  thousand  men,  British  and  Hessians,  commanded  by 
General  Clinton  and  Earl  Percy,  entered  Narragansett  Bay.  The  troops 
landed  about  four  and  a  half  miles  above  Newport,  and  took  possession  of 
Khode  Island.  Early  in  May,  1777,  General  Clinton,  with  nearly  half  the 
army,  left  for  New  York,  and  the  command  devolved  upon  Major-General 
Prescott,  who  was  superseded  in  1778  by  Sir  Kobert  Pigot,  with  reinforce 
ments.  In  August,  1778,  General  Sullivan  in  conjunction  with  the  French 
fleet  under  D'Estaing  undertook  to  regain  possession  of  Rhode  Island,  but 
the  attempt  was  unsuccessful,  and  Sullivan,  after  the  battle  of  August  29 
(Quaker  Hill),  was  forced  to  evacuate  the  Island.  The  British  held  pos 
session  until  October  25,  1779,  when  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  apprehending  an 
attack  upon  New  York  by  the  combined  forces  of  the  French  and  Ameri 
cans,  withdrew  the  troops. 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  23. 

At  Morristown :  "  The  Philadelphia  Troop  of  Light  Horse 


68  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON,          [1777 

under  the  command  of  Captain  Morris,  having  perform'd 
their  Tour  of  duty  are  discharged  for  the  present. 

"  I  take  this  Opportunity  of  returning  my  most  sincere 
thanks  to  the  Captain  and  to  the  Gentlemen  who  compose 
the  Troop,  for  the  many  essential  Services  which  they  have 
rendered  to  their  Country,  and  to  me  personally  during  the 
Course  of  this  severe  Campaign.  Tho'  composed  of  Gentle 
men  of  Fortune,  they  have  shewn  a  noble  Example  of  dis 
cipline  and  subordination,  and  in  several  Actions  have  shewn 
a  Spirit  of  Bravery  which  will  ever  do  Honor  to  them  and 
will  ever  be  gratefully  remembered  by  me." —  Washington  to 
the  Philadelphia  Troop  of  Light  Horse. 

FKIDAY,  JANUARY  24. 

At  Morristown  :  "  While  our  dependence  is  upon  militia, 
we  have  a  full  army  one  day,  and  scarce  any  the  next ;  and 
I  am  much  afraid,  that  the  enemy  one  day  or  other,  taking 
advantage  of  one  of  these  temporary  weaknesses,  will  make 
themselves  masters  of  our  magazines  of  stores,  arms,  and 
artillery." —  Washington  to  Governor  Trwnbull. 

The  letter  from  which  the  above  extract  is  made  was  sent  as  a  circular  to 
each  of  the  New  England  States.  After  alluding  to  the  want  of  a  regular 
body  of  troops,  on  whom  he  could  depend  for  a  length  of  time,  and  urging 
the  prompt  equipment  of  the  battalions  allotted  to  each  State  by  the  reso 
lutions  of  Congress  of  September,  1776,  Washington  wrote:  "Nothing  but 
their  [the  enemy's]  ignorance  of  our  numbers  protects  us  at  this  very  time, 
when,  on  the  contrary,  had  we  six  or  eight  thousand  regular  troops,  or  could 
the  militia,  who  were  with  me  a  few  days  ago,  have  been  prevailed  upon  to 
stay,  we  could  have  struck  such  a  stroke,  as  would  have  inevitably  ruined 
the  army  of  the  enemy,  in  their  divided  state." 

SATURDAY,  JANUARY  25. 

At  Morristown :  Issues  a  proclamation  commanding  and 
requiring  every  person  who  had  signed  a  declaration  of 
fidelity,  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  engaged  not  to 
take  up  arms  against  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  to  repair 
to  head-quarters  within  thirty  days,  and  there  deliver  up 
such  protection,  certificate,  and  passport,  and  take  the  oath 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  69 

of  allegiance  to  the  United  States  of  America,  or  withdraw 
within  the  British  lines. 

This  proclamation,  which  was  issued  to  counteract  the  effects  of  one  by 
Lord  Howe  and  General  Howe,  November  30,  1776,  promising  amnesty  to 
all  in  rebellion  who  should,  within  sixty  days,  return  to  their  allegiance,  was 
objected  to  by  tho  Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  that  body  regarding  it  as  a 
violation  of  State  supremacy.  Others  again,  jealous  of  the  extraordinary 
powers  vested  by  Congress  in  "Washington  (December  27,  1776),  questioned 
whether  he  had  not  transcended  these  powers,  and  exercised  a  degree  of 
despotism. 

SUNDAY,  JANUARY  26. 

At  Morristown :  "  Reinforcements  come  up  so  extremely 
slow,  that  I  am  afraid  I  shall  be  left  without  any  men  before 
they  arrive.  The  enemy  must  be  ignorant  of  our  numbers, 
or  they  have  not  horses  to  move  their  artillery,  or  they 
would  not  suffer  us  to  remain  undisturbed." — Washington  to 
the  President  of  Congress. 

SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  22. 

At  Morristown :  "  The  cry  of  want  of  Provisions  comes  to 
me  from  all  Quarters — Genl  Maxwell  writes  word  that  his 
men  are  starving — Genl  Johnston,  of  Maryland  yesterday  in 
formed  me  that  his  people  could  draw  none — this  difficulty 
I  understand  prevails  also  at  Chatham — What  Sir  is  the 
meaning  of  this  ? — &  why  were  you  so  desirous  of  excluding 
others  from  this  business  when  you  are  unable  to  accom 
plish  it  yourself?  Consider,  I  beseech  you,  the  consequences 
of  this  neglect." — Washington  to  Commissary  Irvine. 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  1. 

At  Morristown  :  Orderly  Book. — "  Alexander  Hamilton 
Esqr  is  appointed  Aide  de  Camp  to  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  and  is  to  be  respected  and  obeyed  as  such." 

The  appointment  of  Hamilton  as  a  member  of  the  military  family  of  Wash 
ington  brought  out  the  following  congratulatory  letter  from  his  early  pre 
ceptor  Hugh  Knox,  dated  St.  Croix,  December  10,  1777,  which  in  the  light 
of  history  may  be  considered  remarkably  prophetic:  "The  honorable  post 


70  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1777 

you  hold  under  the  GREAT  General  Washington,  and  so  near  his  person, 
will  give  you  a  peculiar  advantage  for  delineating  his  character,  both  in  his 
amiable  private  virtues,  and  military  abilities.  And  depend  upon  it,  the 
very  minutiae  of  that  incomparable  man  will  be  read  with  avidity  by  pos 
terity.  You  know  me  too  well,  I  hope,  to  suspect  me  of  superstition ;  yet 
I  feel  myself,  at  times,  under  a  strong  impulse  to  prophesy,  that  Washington 
was  born  for  the  deliverance  of  America — that  that  Providence  who  has 
raised  and  trained  him  up  for  that  very  purpose,  will  watch  over  his  sacred 
life  with  a  paternal  and  solicitous  care ;  will  shield  his  head  in  every  day  of 
battle — will  give  him  to  see  America  free,  flourishing,  and  happy — and  will 
adorn  his  fame,  among  latest  posterity,  with  a  Garland  of  Laurel,  more 
verdant,  blooming,  and  enviable,  than  ever  adorned  the  brow  of  a  Marl- 
borough." 

Hugh  Knox,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Ireland  about  1733,  and  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  1751.  He  was  graduated  at  Princeton  in  1754,  and,  after  study 
ing  theology  a  year  longer,  was  ordained.  Dr.  Knox  settled  at  St.  Croix, 
and  became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterians  who  were  living  on  that  island. 
Alexander  Hamilton  was  placed  under  his  instruction  in  boyhood.  He  died 
October,  1790. 

SUNDAY,  MARCH  2. 

At  Morristown :  "  General  Howe  cannot,  by  the  best  in 
telligence  I  have  been  able  to  get,  have  less  than  ten  thou 
sand  men  in  the  Jerseys  and  on  board  of  transports  at 
Amboy.  Ours  does  not  exceed  four  thousand.  His  are 
well  disciplined,  well  officered,  and  well  appointed.  Ours 
raw  Militia,  badly  officered,  and  under  no  Government." — 
Washington  to  Robert  Morris. 

THURSDAY,  MARCH  6. 

At  Morristown :  "  I  tell  you  in  confidence,  that,  after  the 
15th  of  this  month,  when  the  time  of  General  Lincoln's 
militia  expires,  I  shall  be  left  with  the  remains  of  five 
Virginia  regiments,  not  amounting  to  more  than  as  many 
hundred  men,  and  parts  of  two  or  three  other  Continental 
battalions,  all  very  weak.  The  remainder  of  the  army  will 
be  composed  of  small  parties  of  militia  from  this  State  and 
Pennsylvania,  on  which  little  dependence  can  be  put,  as 
they  come  and  go  when  they  please." —  Washington  to  Gov 
ernor  Trumbull. 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  71 

FRIDAY,  MARCH  14. 

At  Morristown  :  "  From  the  most  accurate  estimate  that 
I  can  form,  the  whole  of  our  numbers  in  Jersey,  fit  for  duty 
at  this  time,  is  under  three  thousand.  These,  nine  hundred 
and  eighty-one  excepted,  are  militia,  and  stand  engaged 
only  till  the  last  of  this  month.  The  troops  under  inocula 
tion,  including  their  attendants,  amount  to  about  one  thou 
sand." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

Such  had  been  the  melancholy  and  deplorable  situation  of  the  army  the 
preceding  campaign,  particularly  in  Canada,  from  the  ravages  of  the  small 
pox,  that  very  efficient  measures  had  been  taken  this  winter  to  prevent 
the  disease  from  spreading  among  the  soldiers.  An  establishment  for  in 
oculation  was  provided  near  Morristown  for  the  troops  in  camp  ;  one  at 
Philadelphia  for  those  coming  from  the  south  ;  another  under  the  direction 
of  General  Parsons  in  Connecticut  for  the  soldiers  in  that  State  ;  and  another 
at  Providence. 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  15 

At  Morristown:  "Morristown,  March  15,  1777. — His  Ex 
cellency  has  been  ill  for  some  days,  but  is  now  perfectly  re 
covered,  and  has  the  satisfaction  of  his  amiable  lady's  com 
pany,  who  arrived  here  this  day  in  good  health."— -Letter  in 
the  Continental  Journal,  March  27. 

"  Kingston,  26  March  1777. — No  circumstance  could  have  more  contributed 
to  our  happiness  than  to  hear  of  the  General's  recovery ;  which,  believe  me, 
gave  universal  joy.  Be  pleased  to  make  my  most  respectful  compliments  to 
his  lady." — Gouverneur  Morris  to  Alexander  Hamilton. 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  22. 

At  Morristown :  "  March  22. — Went  to  Morristown.  Fin 
ished  my  business  with  the  Paymaster,  and  drank  tea  at 
headquarters,  General  Washington  and  his  lady  being  of 
the  company,  and  then  took  leave  of  the  General." — Journal 
of  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering. 

TUESDAY,  APRIL  15. 

At  Morristown  :  "  The  designs  of  the  enemy  are  not  as 
yet  closely  unfolded,  but  Philadelphia  I  conceive  is  the  ob- 


72  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1777 

ject  in  view;  however,  this  may  or  may  not  be  the  case; 
as  the  North  River  must  also  he  an  object  of  very  great  im 
portance  to  them,  whilst  they  have  an  army  in  Canada  and 
are  desirous  of  a  junction  with  it." — Washington  to  Landon 
Carter. 

MONDAY,  APKIL  28. 

At  Morristown :  "  At  three  o'clock  this  morning  I  re 
ceived  your  favor  of  the  27th.  The  intelligence  it  contains 
is  interesting  and  truly  distressing.  By  this  time  I  fear  the 
enemy  have  effected  their  purpose  and  destroyed  all  the 
stores  at  Danbury." — Washington  to  General  McDougalL 

On  the  25th  of  April,  in  the  afternoon,  two  thousand  British  troops  landed 
at  Compo,  near  Fairneld,  Connecticut,  under  the  command  of  Governor 
Tryon.  They  reached  Danbury  the  next  day  at  four  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  and  immediately  set  fire  to  the  public  stores  and  several  private  dwell 
ings.  On  the  return  to  their  ships,  they  were  met  at  Eidgefield  by  Generals 
Silliman,  Arnold,  and  Wooster,  with  six  hundred  militia  hastily  collected, 
and  a  sharp  conflict  ensued.  General  "Wooster  was  wounded  and  died  on 
the  2d  of  May.  Sixteen  hundred  tents  which  had  been  removed  from  Peeks- 
kill  to  Danbury  for  safe  keeping  were  destroyed. 

THURSDAY,  MAY  8. 

At  Morristown :  Orderly  Book. — "  As  few  vices  are  at 
tended  with  more  pernicious  consequences  in  civil  life ;  so 
there  are  none  more  fatal  in  a  military  one,  than  that  of 
GAMING ;  which  often  brings  disgrace  and  ruin  upon  offi 
cers,  and  injury  and  punishment  upon  the  soldiery;  And 
reports  prevailing,  which  it  is  to  be  feared  are  too  well 
founded,  that  this  destructive  vice  has  spread  its  baneful 
influence  in  the  army,  and,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  to  the 
prejudice  of  the  recruiting  service.  The  Commander  in 
chief,  in  the  most  pointed  and  explicit  terms,  forbids  ALL 
Officers  and  Soldiers,  playing  at  cards,  dice,  or  at  any  games, 
except  those  of  EXERCISE,  for  diversion;  it  being  im 
possible  if  the  practice  be  allowed,  at  all,  to  discriminate 
between  innocent  play,  for  amusement,  and  criminal  gaming 
for  pecuniary  and  sordid  purposes." 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  73 

"  Let  vice  and  immorality  of  every  kind  be  discouraged  as  much  as  pos 
sible  in  your  brigade ;  and,  as  a  chaplain  is  allowed  to  each  regiment,  see 
that  the  men  regularly  attend  divine  worship.  Gaming  of  every  kind  is 
expressly  forbidden,  as  being  the  foundation  of  evil,  and  the  cause  of  many 
a  brave  and  gallant  officer's  ruin.  Games  of  exercise  for  amusement  may 
not  only  be  permitted  but  encouraged." — Washington's  Instructions  to  the 
Brigadier  Generals,  May  26. 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  28. 

At  Morristown :  "  I  am  just  moving  to  Boundbrook 
[Middlebrook],  from  whence  I  returned  yesterday  morning. 
On  Monday  morning  a  body  of  the  enemy  advanced  near 
that  post.  They  retreated,  on  seeing  a  detachment  march 
to  meet  them." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

At  this  time  the  troops  under  Washington's  immediate  command,  over 
seven  thousand  strong,  were  those  from  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Dela 
ware,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  in  all  forty-three  regiments,  including 
Hazen's.  They  were  divided  into  ten  brigades  ;  and  into  five  divisions,  of 
two  brigades  each,  under  Major-Generals  Greene,  Stephen,  Sullivan,  Lincoln, 
and  Stirling.  The  artillery  was  commanded  by  Knox.  The  New  York  and 
eastern  troops  were  chiefly  at  Peekskill  and  Ticonderoga. 

THUKSDAY,  MAY  29. 

At  Middlebrook,  New  Jersey :  Establishes  head-quarters, 
where  he  remains  (except  as  noted)  until  July  3. 

Middlebrook,  Somerset  County,  New  Jersey,  is  on  the  Earitan  Eiver, 
fifteen  miles  south  of  Morristown.  Middlebrook  and  Bouudbrook  lie  close 
together,  and  are  included  in  one  village. 

TUESDAY,  JUNE  17. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  The  main  body  of  our  army  is  en 
camped  at  Middlebrook,  and  a  considerable  body  under 
General  Sullivan  at  Sourland  Hills.  .  .  .  The  enemy  are 
strongly  posted,  having  their  right  at  Brunswic  and  their 
left  at  Somerset." — Washington  to  General  Arnold. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  22. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  11  o'clock  P.M. — The  enemy  evacu 
ated  Brunswic  this  morning  and  retired  to  Amboy,  burning 


74  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1777 

many  houses  as  they  went  along.  .  .  Our  people  pursued 
them  as  far  as  Piscataway ;  but  finding  it  impossible  to  over 
take  them,  and  fearing  they  might  be  led  too  far  from  the 
main  body,  they  returned  to  Brunswic." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  25. 

At  Quibbletown,  New  Jersey :  "  After  the  evacuation  of 
Brunswic,  I  determined  with  the  advice  of  my  general  offi 
cers,  to  move  the  whole  army  the  next  morning  to  this  post, 
where  they  would  be  nearer  the  enemy,  and  might  act  ac 
cording  to  circumstances.  In  this  I  was  prevented  by  rain, 
and  they  only  moved  yesterday  morning." —  Washington  to 
the  President  of  Congress. 

Quibbletown  (now  New  Market),  Middlesex  County,  New  Jersey,  is  about 
six  miles  from  Middlebrook  on  the  road  to  Amboy. 

THURSDAY,  JUNE  26. 

At  Middlebrook :  On  the  morning  of  the  26th,  General 
Howe  advanced  with  his  whole  army  in  several  columns 
from  Amboy,  as  far  as  Westfield,  with  the  design  of  either 
bringing  on  a  general  engagement,  or  to  possess  himself  of 
the  heights  and  passes  in  the  mountains  on  the  American 
left.  Washington,  perceiving  this,  put  the  troops  in  motion 
and  regained  the  camp  at  Middlebrook.  After  some  skir 
mishing  the  enemy  retired  on  the  27th  to  Amboy. 

SATURDAY  JUNE  28. 

At  Middlebrook :  Orderly  Book. — "  All  chaplains  are  to 
perform  divine  service  to-morrow,  and  on  every  other  suc 
ceeding  Sunday,  with  their  respective  brigades  and  regi 
ments,  when  their  situations  will  admit  of  it,  and  the  com 
manding  officers  of  corps  are  to  see  that  they  attend.  The 
Commander-in-Chief  expects  an  exact  compliance  with  this 
order,  and  that  it  be  observed  in  future  as  an  invariable  rule 
of  practice,  and  every  neglect  will  not  only  be  considered  a 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  75 

breach  of  orders,  but  a  disregard  to  decency,  virtue,  and 
religion." 

TUESDAY,  JULY  1. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  The  ships  that  were  at  Amboy  moved 
down  round  Staten  Island  this  morning,  and  all  the  troops 
that  were  encamped  opposite  to  the  town  struck  their  tents 
and  marched  off.  Upon  the  whole,  there  is  the  strongest 
reason  to  conclude  that  General  Howe  will  push  up  the 
river  immediately  to  cooperate  with  the  army  from  Canada, 
which,  it  appears  from  the  accounts  transmitted  by  General 
St.  Glair,  has  certainly  in  view  an  attack  on  Ticonderoga 
and  the  several  dependent  posts." — Washington  to  General 
Putnam. 

"  The  day  before  yesterday  he  [General  Howe]  threw  the  whole  of  his 
army  over  to  Staten  Island,  and  totally  evacuated  the  State  of  New  Jersey." 
—  Washington  to  General  Schuyler,  July  2. 

FRIDAY,  JULY  4. 

At  Morristown :  "  The  army  marched  yesterday  for  this 
place,  where  it  will  be  more  conveniently  situated  for  succor 
ing  Peeks  Kill,  or  the  Eastern  States,  and  will  be  near 
enough  to  oppose  any  design  upon  Philadelphia.  General 
Sullivan  is  further  advanced  towards  Peeks  Kill." —  Wash 
ington  to  Governor  Trumbull. 

"  I  am  yet  perplexed  to  find  out  the  real  intentions  of  the  enemy ;  but, 
upon  a  presumption  that  their  views  are  up  the  North  River,  I  have  ad 
vanced  General  Sullivan's  division  as  far  as  Pompton,  and  the  main  body 
of  the  army  to  this  place." — Washington  to  General  Armstrong,  Morristown, 
July  4. 

THURSDAY,  JULY  10. 

At  Morristown :  "  I  this  morning  received  a  letter  of  the 
7th  instant  from  General  Schuyler,  a  copy  of  which,  and  of 
its  enclosure,  I  herewith  send  you.  The  intelligence  which 
they  contain  [the  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga]  is  truly  inter 
esting,  supposing  it  just.  .  .  In  consequence  of  the  advices 
from  General  St.  Glair,  and  the  probability  there  is  that 


76  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1777 

General  Howe  will  push  against  the  Highland  passes  to 
cooperate  with  General  Burgoyne,  I  shall,  by  the  advice  of 
my  officers,  move  the  army  from  hence  to-morrow  morning 
towards  the  North  River."—  Washing  ton  to  the  President  of 
Congress. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  General  Burgoyne,  with  an  army  of  more  than  seven 
thousand  men,  including  four  hundred  Indians,  appeared  before  Ticonderoga, 
garrisoned  with  about  two  thousand  under  the  command  of  Major-Genenil 
Arthur  St.  Clair.  General  Burgoyne,  perceiving  that  St.  Clair  had  neglected 
to  occupy  Mount  Hope  and  Mount  Defiance,  took  possession  of  the  former 
on  the  following  day,  and  the  latter,  which  completely  commanded  Ticon 
deroga  and  Mount  Independence,  on  the  night  of  the  4th.  In  a  council  of 
war  on  the  5th,  called  by  St.  Clair,  it  was  decided  to  evacuate  both  forts,  and 
at  two  o'clock  on  the  6th  the  troops  were  put  in  motion.  The  main  body 
proceeded  to  Castleton,  Vermont,  but  the  rear-guard  remained  for  the  night 
at  Hubbardton,  where,  on  the  following  morning,  a  desperate,  and  to  the 
Americans  a  disastrous  battle  was  fought.  The  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga, 
without  efforts  at  defence,  was  loudly  condemned,  and  Congress,  listening  to 
the  popular  clamor,  suspended  St.  Clair  from  command,  and  appointed 
General  Gates  to  supersede  General  Schuyler  in  command  of  the  northern 
department. 

SATURDAY,  JULY  12. 

At  Pompton  Plains,  New  Jersey :  "  We  have  been  pre 
vented  marching  to-day  by  the  rain ;  but,  as  soon  as  the 
weather  permits,  we  shall  proceed  as  expeditiously  as  we 
can  towards  the  North  River,  and  cross,  or  not,  as  shall 
appear  necessary  from  circumstances." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

11  July  11. — The  whole  army  marched  from  Morristown  to  Pompton 
Plains,  about  seventeen  miles.  .  July  12.  A  rainy  day.  .  13th,  the  same.  . 
14th,  marched  to  Van  Aulen's,  a  mile  east  of  Pond  Church  ;  15th  to  Sov 
ereign  (Suffren's  or  Suffern's)  tavern  near  the  entrance  to  Smith's  Clove." — 
Pickering's  Journal. 

SUNDAY,  JULY  13. 

At  Pompton  Plains:  "This  is  the  second  day  I  have 
been  detained  here  by  the  badness  of  the  weather.  As 
soon  as  it  will  permit,  I  shall  prosecute  my  march  through 
the  Clove." —  Washington  to  General  Schuyler. 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  77 

"  Tradition  reports  that  Washington  had  his  head-quarters  [at  Pompton] 
in  a  little  frame  house,  on  the  banks  of  the  Wynockie,  which  stands  at  the 
bend  of  a  road  leading  from  the  Ryerson  Furnace  to  the  Passaic  County 
Hotel.  It  is  opposite  to  a  more  imposing  structure  known  as  the  Ryerson 
House.  During  the  revolution  it  belonged  to  Capt.  Arent  Schuyler." — 
Magazine  of  American  History,  iii.  158. 

TUESDAY,  JULY  15. 

At  Suffern's  Tavern :  "  The  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga 
and  Mount  Independence  is  an  Event  of  Chagrin  and  sur 
prise,  not  apprehended  nor  within  the  compass  of  my  reason 
ing.  .  .  This  stroke  is  severe  indeed,  and  has  distressed  me 
much." — Washington  to  General  Schuyler. 

SufFern's  Tavern,  which  Washington  made  his  head-quarters  until  July 
20th,  was  in  Orange  County,  New  York,  near  the  entrance  to  the  Clove. 

"  The  Clove  is  extremely  wild,  and  was  scarcely  known  before  the  war : 
it  is  a  sort  of  valley,  or  gorge,  situated  to  the  westward  of  the  high  moun 
tains  between  New  Windsor  and  King's  Ferry,  and  at  the  foot  of  which  are 
West  Point  and  Stoney  Point,  and  the  principal  forts  which  defend  the 
river." — De  Chastelltea;,  i.  345. 

FRIDAY,  JULY  18. 

At  Sufi'ern's  Tavern :  "  Upon  my  Eequisition,  General 
Arnold,  waiving  for  the  present  all  dispute  about  rank,  left 
Philadelphia  and  arrived  here  last  Evening,  and  this  day 
proceeds  on  his  journey  to  join  you." —  Washington  to  Gen- 
eral  Schuyler. 

SATURDAY,  JULY  19. 

At  Suffern's  Tavern  :  "  Genl.  Howe  still  lays  intirely  quiet 
on  board  the  Fleet  at  Staten  Island,  very  few  troops  remain 
on  shore,  and  the  destination  a  profound  secret.  Whatever 
were  his  intentions  before  this  unlucky  Blow  to  the  North 
ward,  he  certainly  ought  in  good  policy  to  endeavor  to 
cooperate  with  Genl.  Burgoine.  I  am  so  fully  of  opinion 
that  this  will  be  his  plan  that  I  have  advanced  the  Army 
thus  far  to  support  our  party  at  Peeks  Kill  should  the 
Enemy  move  up  the  River." — Washington  to  General  Heath. 


78  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1777 

SUNDAY,  JULY  20. 

At  Galloway's  in  the  Clove  :  "  "Went  from  Suffern's  tavern 
into  the  Clove  eleven  miles.  Head-quarters  at  Galloway's, 
an  old  log  house.  The  General  [Washington]  lodged  in  a 
bed,  and  his  family  on  the  floor  about  him.  We  had  plenty 
of  sepawn  arid  milk,  and  all  were  contented." — Pickering's 
Journal. 

MONDAY,  JULY  21. 

At  Galloway's :  "  The  intelligence,  which  occasioned  us 
to  advance  from  the  Entrance  of  the  Clove  yesterday  morn 
ing,  I  find  to  have  been  premature,  and  mean  to  remain  here 
till  I  have  your  answer." —  Washington  to  General  Putnam. 

The  movement  into  the  Clove  was  made  under  the  supposition,  or  prema 
ture  intelligence,  that  General  Howe  was  about  pushing  up  the  North  Kiver 
to  co-operate  with  General  Burgoyne. 

TUESDAY,  JULY  22. 

At  Galloway's :  "  We  have  been  under  great  embarrass 
ments  respecting  the  intended  operations  of  General  Howe, 
and  still  are,  notwithstanding  the  utmost  pains  to  obtain 
intelligence  of  the  same.  At  present  it  would  appear  that 
he  is  going  out  to  sea.  By  authentic  information,  there  are 
only  forty  ships  at  New  York;  the  rest  are  gone  elsewhere, 
and  have  fallen  down  between  the  Narrows  and  the  Hook. 
Between  these  two  places,  the  number,  from  the  most  ac 
curate  observation,  was  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  yes 
terday." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

THUKSDAY,  JULY  24. 

At  Ramapo,  New  Jersey :  "  I  have  just  received  advice 
of  the  Enemy's  fleet  having  sailed  from  the  Hook ;  in  con 
sequence  of  which  I  have  to  desire,  that  you  will  immediately 
order  General  Sullivan's  &  Lord  Stirling's  Divisions  to  cross 
the  river  [the  Hudson],  and  proceed  towards  Philadelphia." 
—  Washington  to  General  Putnam. 


1777]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  79 

"  Ramapo,  or  Ramopock,  was  a  small  settlement,  about  five  miles  south 
of  the  present  Suffern's  Station  on  the  New  York  and  Erie  rail-way,  and 
within  the  province  of  New  Jersey.  It  was  nearly  seven  miles  below  the 
present  village  of  Ramapo,  founded  by  Mr.  Pierson." — Lossing,  "Field- 
Book,"  i.  780. 

FRIDAY,  JULY  25. 

At  Ramapo :  "  I  have  reed  yours  of  Yesterday's  date  En 
closing  the  Intercepted  Letter  from  Genl  Howe  to  Burgoyne. 
To  me  a  stronger  proof  could  not  be  given,  that  the  former 
is  not  going  to  the  Eastward,  than  this  Letter  adduces.  It 
was  evidently  intended  to  fall  into  our  hands.  ...  I  am 
persuaded  more  than  ever,  that  Philadelphia  is  the  place  of 
destination." —  Washington  to  General  Putnam. 

The  letter  from  General  Howe  to  General  Burgoyne,  referred  to  above, 
informing  the  latter  that  an  expedition  to  Boston  would  take  the  place  of 
one  up  the  North  River,  was  written  to  deceive.  It,  however,  only  con 
firmed  Washington  in  his  purpose  to  put  the  army  in  motion  towards  Phil 
adelphia. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  30. 

At  Coryell's  Ferry,  Kew  Jersey :  "  As  we  are  uncertain 
as  to  the  real  destination  of  the  enemy,  tho  the  Delaware 
seems  most  probable,  I  have  thought  it  prudent  to  halt  the 
army  at  this  place,  HowelFs  Ferry,  and  Trenton,  at  least  till 
the  Fleet  actually  enters  the  Bay,  and  puts  the  matter  be 
yond  a  doubt.  Genl  Howe's  in  a  manner  abandoning  Gen 
eral  Burgoyne  is  so  unaccountable  a  matter,  that,  till  I  am 
fully  assured  it  is  so,  I  cannot  help  casting  my  Eyes  con 
tinually  behind  me." — Washington  to  General  Gates. 

The  route  of  the  army  from  the  Clove  to  Coryell's  Ferry,  on  the  Dela 
ware,  sixteen  miles  above  Trenton,  is  given  by  Colonel  Pickering  in  his 
Journal:  "July  23d.  Returned  from  the  Clove  to  Ramapo.  25th. 
Marched  to  Pompton ;  26th,  to  Morristown  ;  27th,  to  Reading,  eighteen 
miles  from  Coryell's  Ferry  over  the  Delaware.  28th.  Marched  to  the  ferry, 
and  quartered  at  a  hearty  old  Quaker's  named  Oakham." 

THURSDAY,  JULY  81. 

At  Coryell's  Ferry:   "At  half  after  nine   o'clock  this 


80  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1777 

morning,  I  received  an  express  from  Congress,  advising 
that  the  enemy's  fleet,  consisting  of  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  sail  were  at  the  Capes  of  Delaware  yesterday  in  the 
forenoon.  .  .  .  The  troops  are  on  their  march  from  hence." 

—  Washington  to  Governor  TrumbulL 

Washington  left  Eamapo  on  the  25th  of  July,  and  arrived  at  Coryell's 
Ferry,  on  the  Delaware,  now  Lambertville,  New  Jersey,  on  the  28th.  One 
brigade  of  the  army  crossed  the  river  on  the  morning  of  the  29th ;  two 
divisions  under  General  Stephen  crossed  at  Howell's  Ferry,  now  Stockton, 
three  miles  above,  and  Lord  Stirling  at  Trenton.  The  troops  which  crossed 
at  Coryell's  and  Howell's,  comprising  the  bulk  of  the  army,  were  put  in 
march  for  Philadelphia,  down  the  Old  York  Eoad,  on  the  morning  of  the 
31st,  Washington  going  in  advance,  arriving  in  the  city  at  about  ten  o'clock 
at  night.  On  the  following  day,  August  1,  he  examined  the  defences  of  the 
Delaware,*  and  passed  the  night  at  Chester,  fifteen  miles  below  Philadelphia. 

FKIDAY,  AUGUST  1. 

At  Chester,  Pennsylvania:  "I  have  this  moment  [10 
o'clock  P.M.]  received  intelligence  by  express,  that  the 
enemy's  fleet  yesterday  morning  about  eight  o'clock  sailed 
out  of  the  Capes  in  an  eastern  course." — Washington  to  Gen 
eral  Putnam. 

SATUKDAY,  AUGUST  2. 

At  Philadelphia:  In  conference  with  a  committee  of 
Congress.  Washington  remained  in  Philadelphia  until  the 
afternoon  of  August  4. 

It  was  during  this  visit  to  Philadelphia  that  Washington,  at  a  public 
dinner  given  in  his  honor,  met  Lafayette  for  the  first  time.  The  marquis, 
who  had  just  been  commissioned  a  major-general,  refers  to  this  meeting  in 
his  Memoirs,  which  are  written  in  the  third  person,  in  the  following  words : 
"  The  two  Howes  having  appeared  before  the  Capes  of  the  Delaware,  Gen 
eral  Washington  came  to  Philadelphia,  and  M.  de  Lafayette  beheld  for  the 
first  time  that  great  man.  Although  he  was  surrounded  by  officers  and 
citizens,  it  was  impossible  to  mistake  for  a  moment  his  majestic  figure  and 

*  "Aug.  1777. — Expended  in  a  trip  to  examine  Mud  Isla  [Fort  Mifflin] 
Eed  bank  [Fort  Mercer]  and  Billingsport.  .  60£  Doll8.— To  Ditto  going  to 
Marcus  hook.  .  86  Doll'." — Washington's  Accounts. 


1777]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  81 

deportment ;   nor  was  he  less  distinguished  by  the  noble  affability  of  his 
manner." 

MONDAY,  AUGUST  4. 

At  Philadelphia :  "You  will  perceive  by  the  enclosed 
copy  of  a  letter  from  Congress,  that  they  have  destined  you 
to  the  command  of  the  army  in  the  northern  department, 
and  have  directed  me  to  order  you  immediately  to  repair  to 
that  post.  I  have  therefore  to  desire  you  will,  in  pursuance 
of  their  intention,  proceed  to  the  place  of  your  destination, 
with  all  the  expedition  you  can,  and  take  upon  you  the 
command  of  the  northern  army  accordingly." — Washington 
to  General  Gates. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  5. 

At  Schuylkill  Falls :  "  Our  affairs  at  the  northward  have 
taken  a  turn  not  more  unfortunate  than  unexpected.  .  . 
This  affair  has  cast  a  dark  shade  upon  a  very  bright  pros 
pect,  our  accounts  from  that  quarter  being  very  gloomy; 
but  some  reinforcements  having  been  sent  up,  and  some 
good  officers,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  cloud  will  be  dis 
pelled." —  Washington  to  John  Augustine  Washington. 

On  August  1st,  the  army  arrived  at  its  camping  ground  between  German- 
town  and  the  Schuylkill  River  (Schuylkill  Falls),  five  miles  north  of  Phila 
delphia,  where  Washington  rejoined  it  on  the  afternoon  of  the  4th,  making 
his  head-quarters  at  the  country-seat  of  Henry  Hill,  on  Indian  Queen  Lane, 
about  one  mile  east  of  the  Falls,  and  the  same  distance  from  Germantown. 
The  house  was  taken  down  in  1780.* 

The  army  remained  at  the  "camp  by  Schuylkill  Falls,"  until  the  after 
noon  of  August  8,  when,  under  the  supposition  that  the  enemy  had  sailed 
for  the  eastward,  it  was  started  back  to  the  Hudson. 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  7. 

At  Schuylkill  Falls :  "  We  are  yet  entirely  in  the  dark  as 
to  the  destination  of  the  Enemy.  The  Fleet  has  neither 
been  seen  nor  heard  of  since  they  left  the  Capes  of  Dela- 

*  See  the  paper  entitled  "  The  Camp  by  Schuylkill  Falls,"  Pennsylvania 
Magazine,  vol.  xvi.  p.  28. 

7 


82  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1777 

ware,  on  this  day  week.  .  .  I  have  ordered  the  heavy  bag- 
gaga  of  the  army  to  be  thrown  over  the  Delaware  again, 
and  I  hold  the  men  in  constant  readiness  to  march  the 
moment  we  receive  any  accounts  of  the  Enemy." — Wash 
ington  to  General  Putnam. 

"  The  troops  of  the  whole  Line  are  to  be  in  readiness  to  be  review 'd  to 
morrow  Morning  at  5  o'clock,  when  it  is  expected  every  Officer  and  Soldier 
not  on  duty  and  able  will  attend." — Orderly  Book,  August  7. 

FKIDAY,  AUGUST  8. 

At  Schuylkill  Falls :  "  August  8th. — The  army  was  re 
viewed,  and  in  the  afternoon  marched  about  nine  or  ten 
miles  back  from  Germantown." — Pickering's  Journal. 

The  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  an  eye-witness  to  the  .review,  has  left  us  the 
following  description  in  his  Memoirs:  "About  eleven  thousand  men,  ill 
armed,  and  still  worse  clothed,  presented  a  strange  spectacle  to  the  eye  of 
the  young  Frenchman :  their  clothes  were  parti-coloured,  and  many  of  them 
were  almost  naked  ;  the  best  clad  wore  hunting  shirts,  large  grey  linen  coats 
which  were  much  used  in  Carolina.  As  to  their  military  tactics,  it  will  be 
sufficient  to  say  that,  for  a  regiment  ranged  in  order  of  battle  to  move  for 
ward  on  the  right  of  its  line,  it  was  necessary  for  the  left  to  make  a  con 
tinued  counter  march.  They  were  always  arranged  in  two  lines,  the  smallest 
men  in  the  first  line ;  no  other  distinction  as  to  height  was  ever  observed. 
In  spite  of  these  disadvantages,  the  soldiers  were  fine,  and  the  officers  zeal 
ous  ;  virtue  stood  in  place  of  science,  and  each  day  added  both  to  experience 
and  discipline." 

SATURDAY,  AUGUST  9. 

At  Schuylkill  Falls  :  "  We  have  no  further  account  of 
the  Enemy's  Fleet  and  and  therefore  concluding  that  they 
are  gone  to  the  Eastward  we  have  again  turned  our  faces 
that  way  and  shall  move  slow  till  we  get  some  account  of 
it." — Washington  to  John  Augustine  Washington. 

SUNDAY,  AUGUST  10. 

At  the  Neshaminy  Camp :  "  I  this  minute  [nine  o'clock 
P.M.]  received  your  favor  of  this  afternoon,  transmitting  in 
telligence  that  a  fleet  was  seen  off  Sinapuxent  on  the  7th 
instant  I  was  about  three  miles  eastward  of  the  Billet 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.  83 

tavern  [now  Hatborough],  on  the  road  leading  to  CoryelPs 
Ferry,  when  the  express  arrived.  The  troops  are  encamped 
near  the  road,  where  they  will  remain  till  I  have  farther 
accounts  of  the  fleet." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Con 
gress. 

"Washington's  head-quarters  at  the  "  Neshaminy  Camp,"  Bucks  County, 
Pennsylvania,  twenty  miles  north  of  Philadelphia,  were  at  a  stone  house, 
still  standing,  on  the  Old  York  Koad  near  the  bridge  over  the  Little  Ne- 
shaminy  Creek,  about  half  a  mile  above  the  village  of  Hartsville,  formerly 
known  as  the  Cross  Koads.  The  army  remained  at  the  "  Neshaminy  Camp" 
until  August  23. 

WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  13. 

At  the  Neshaminy  Camp :  "  We  moved  to  this  place  on 
the  10th  inst.  Here  we  received  the  account  from  Synnepux- 
ent,  and  remain  at  fault  till  some  more  particular  accounts 
of  the  motions  of  the  enemy  enable  me  to  judge  of  their 
designs." — John  Laurens  to  Henry  Laurens. 

SATURDAY,  AUGUST  16. 

At  the  ISTeshaminy  Camp  :  "  I  have  your  favor  of  the  14th 
instant.  .  .  The  people  in  the  northern  army  seem  so  in 
timidated  by  the  Indians,  that  I  have  determined  to  send 
up  Colonel  Morgan's  corps  of  riflemen,  who  will  fight  them 
in  their  own  way.  They  will  march  from  Trenton  to-mor 
row  morning." — Washington  to  General  Putnam. 

"  We  have  a  report  from  Albany  of  a  Sever  action  near  fort  Stanwix 
[battle  of  Oriskany,  August  6],  between  about  Eight  hundred  Militia 
[under  General  Nicholas  Herkimer]  &  a  party  of  the  Enimy — which  lasted 
Six  hours — the  Enimy  were  drove  off  the  ground  &  left  One  hundred  & 
Seventy  dead — we  lost  upwards  of  one  hundred  men  in  the  action." — 
Putnam  to  Washington,  Peekskill,  August  14.  MS.  Letter. 

WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  20. 

At  the  Neshaminy  Camp  :  "  Since  the  Enemy's  fleet  was 
seen  off  Sinepuxent,  the  8th  Inst.  we  have  no  accts  from 
them,  which  can  be  depended  on.  I  am  now  of  opinion, 
that  Charles  Town  is  the  present  object  of  General  Howe's 


84  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1777 

attention,  though  for  what  sufficient  reason,  unless  he  ex 
pected  to  drag  this  army  after  him  by  appearing  at  different 
places  &  thereby  leave  the  Country  open  for  Genl  Clinton 
to  March  out  and  endeavor  to  form  a  Junction  with  Genl 
Burgoyne,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  determine." — Washington  to 
General  Gates. 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  21. 

At  the  Neshaminy  Camp  :  A  council  of  war,  in  which  it 
was  decided  that,  as  the  enemy's  fleet  had  most  probably 
Bailed  for  Charleston,  it  was  not  expedient  for  the  army  to 
march  southward,  and  that  it  should  move  immediately 
towards  the  North  River. 

The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  took  part,  for  the  first  time,  in  the  council  of 
•war  convened  on  this  occasion,  as  major-general,  having  been  commissioned 
July  31. 

FRIDAY,  AUGUST  22. 

At  the  Neshaminy  Camp:  "I  am  honored  with  your 
favor  containing  the  intelligence  of  the  enemy's  arrival  in 
Chesapeake  Bay.  ...  I  have  directed  General  Sullivan  to 
join  the  army  with  his  division  as  speedily  as  possible,  and 
I  have  issued  orders  for  all  the  troops  here  to  be  in  motion 
to-morrow  morning  very  early,  with  the  intention  to  march 
them  towards  Philadelphia  and  onwards." — Washington  to 
the  President  of  Congress. 

"  The  Commander-iri-Chief  has  the  happiness  to  inform  the  army  of  the 
signal  victory  obtained  to  the  northward.  A  part  of  General  Burgoyne 's 
army,  about  1500  in  number,  were  detached  towards  New  Hampshire,  and 
advanced  with  a  design  to  possess  themselves  of  Bennington.  Brigadier- 
general  Starke,  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  with  about  2000  men, 
mostly  militia,  attacked  them  [August  16].  Our  troops  behaved  in  a  very 
brave  and  heroic  manner.  They  pushed  the  enemy  from  one  work  to  an 
other,  thrown  up  on  advantageous  ground,  and  from  different  posts,  with 
spirit  and  fortitude,  until  they  gained  a  complete  victory  over  them." — 
Orderly  Book,  August  22. 

SATURDAY,  AUGUST  23. 

At  the  Neshaminy  Camp :   "  I  beg  leave  to  inform  you, 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  85 

that  the  army  marched  early  this  morning,  and  I  expect, 
will  encamp  this  Evening  within  Five  or  Six  miles  of  Phila 
delphia.  To-morrow  morning  it  will  move  again,  and  I 
think  to  march  It  thro  the  City,  but  without  halting.  I  am 
induced  to  do  this,  from  the  opinion  of  Several  of  my  offi 
cers  and  many  Friends  in  Philadelphia,  that  it  may  have 
some  influence  on  the  minds  of  the  disaffected  there,  and 
those  who  are  Dupes  to  their  artifices  and  opinions." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

The  army  moved  down  the  Old  York  Road,  and  encamped  for  the  night 
near  the  present  Nicetown,  within  five  miles  of  Philadelphia.  "Washington 
made  his  head-quarters  at  Stenton,  the  homestead  of  the  Logan  family,  and 
from  which  the  same  evening  he  issued  the  following  general  order:  "  The 
army  is  to  move  precisely  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning,  if  it  should  not  rain. 
.  .  .  The  army  is  to  march  in  one  column  through  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
going  in  at  and  marching  down  Front  Street  to  Chestnut,  and  up  Chestnut 
to  the  Common.  A  small  halt  is  to  be  made  about  a  mile  this  side  of  the 
city  until  the  rear  is  clear  up  and  the  line  in  proper  order." 

SUNDAY,  AUGUST  24. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  Last  Sunday  [August  24]  part  of  the 
Continental  army,  amounting  to  about  ten  thousand  men, 
with  his  excellency  general  Washington  at  their  head, 
marched  through  the  city,  and  immediately  proceeded  over 
the  river  Schuylkill  [at  the  Middle  Ferry,  Market  Street], 
on  their  way,  it  is  said,  to  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland. 
And  on  Monday  morning  gen.  Nash's  brigade  of  JST.  Caro 
lina  forces,  and  col.  Proctor's  regiment  of  artillery,  passed 
through  the  city,  who,  we  hear,  are  to  pursue  the  same  route, 
in  order  to  join  our  most  illustrious  general." — Pennsylvania 
Evening  Post,  August  28,  1777. 

11  August  24th. — The  army  marched  through  the  city  [Philadelphia],  and 
was  allowed  to  make  a  fine  appearance,  the  order  of  marching  being  ex 
tremely  well  preserved.  We  advanced  to  Derby. — 25th.  The  army  marched 
through  Chester  to  Naaman's  Creek,  the  General  and  family  advancing  to 
"Wilmington,  a  pretty  town  and  pleasantly  situated." — Pickering's  Journal. 

MONDAY,  AUGUST  25. 

At  Wilmington,  Delaware  :  "  Six  o'clock  P.M.    I  have  just 


86  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1777 

reed  information,  that  the  Enemy  began  to  land  this  morn 
ing  about  Six  miles  below  the  Head  of  Elk,  opposite  to 
Cecil  Co  art-House." — Washington  to  General  Armstrong. 

"On  reaching  Wilmington  [twenty-eight  miles  southwest  from  Phila 
delphia],  Washington  took  up  his  head-quarters  on  Quaker  Hill,  in  a  house 
which  for  many  years  afterwards  stood  on  the  west  side  of  West  Street, 
midway  between  Third  and  Fourth  ;  the  army  encamped  on  the  high  land 
west  of  the  town,  some  going  as  far  as  Newport,  three  miles  below." — 
Scharf,  "History  of  Delaware,"  i.  243. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  26. 

At  Wilmington:  "August  26th.— The  General  [Wash 
ington]  went  with  all  the  horse,  save  Sheldon's  to  recon 
noitre." — Pickering's  Journal. 

It  was  on  this  reconnoissance  that  Washington,  in  consequence  of  a  ter 
rible  storm,  passed  the  night  at  a  farm-house  near  Gray's  hill,  two  miles 
from  the  Head  of  Elk  (now  Elkton),  at  the  imminent  risk  of  being  sur 
prised  by  the  enemy's  scouts ;  his  only  companions  being  Generals  Greene, 
Weedon,  and  Lafayette. 

WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  27. 

At  Wilmington :  "  I  this  morning  returned  from  the 
Head  of  Elk,  which  I  left  last  night." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

On  August  25  the  British  army  under  Sir  William  Howe,  eighteen 
thousand  strong,  landed  from  the  fleet  at  Turkey  Point,  at  the  head  of 
Chesapeake  Bay,  and  on  the  27th  marched  to  the  Head  of  Elk,  eighteen 
miles  from  Wilmington.  From  this  poin+,  Howe  issued  his  "  Declaration," 
promising,  among  other  things,  pardon  to  those  who  had  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  rebellion,  provided  they  should  voluntarily  return  to  their 
allegiance. 

FRIDAY,  AUGUST  29. 

At  Wilmington :  "  The  enemy  advanced  a  part  of  their 
Army  yesterday  to  Gray's  Hill,  about  two  miles  this  side  of 
Elk." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

SATURDAY,  AUGUST  30. 

At  Wilmington :   "  I  was  reconnoitring  the  country  and 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  87 

different  Roads  all  yesterday,  &  am  now  setting  out  on  tlie 
same  business  again." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Con 
gress. 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  1. 

At  Wilmington :  "  General  Howe's  Declaration  is  agree 
able  to  his  constant  usage,  and  is  what  we  might  reasonably 
expect.  The  only  difference  is,  the  present  exhibition  is 
styled  a  '  Declaration.'  It  is  another  effort  to  seduce  the 
people  to  give  up  their  rights,  and  to  encourage  our  soldiers 
to  desert." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

This  "Declaration"  was  issued  on  the  27th  of  August.  General  Howe 
declared  that  security  and  protection  would  be  extended  to  all  persons  who 
should  remain  peaceably  at  their  usual  places  of  abode ;  and  he  promised 
pardon  to  those  who  had  taken  an  active  part  in  the  rebellion,  provided 
they  should  voluntarily  return  to  their  allegiance,  and  surrender  themselves 
to  any  detachment  of  the  king's  forces  within  a  specified  time. 

WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  3. 

At  Wilmington:  "Eight  o'clock  P.M. — This  morning  the 
Enemy  came  out,  with  a  considerable  force  and  three  pieces 
of  artillery,  against  our  Light  advanced  corps,  and,  after 
some  pretty  smart  skirmishing  obliged  them  to  retreat, 
being  far  inferior  in  number,  and  without  cannon." — Wash 
ington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5. 

At  Wilmington  :  Issues  an  order  informing  the  army  of 
the  intention  of  the  British  to  possess  themselves  of  Phila 
delphia,  and  warning  them  of  the  importance  of  the  im 
pending  battle. 

"September  6th. — Marched  to  Newport,  three  or  four  miles  beyond  Wil 
mington." — Pickering* 's  Journal. 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  7. 

At  Wilmington :  "  Since  General  Howe's  debarkation  in 
Elk  River  he  has  moved  on  about  seven  miles;  his  main 


88  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1777 

body  now  lies  at  Iron  Hill,  and  ours  near  a  village  called 
Newport.  In  this  position  the  armies  are  from  eight  to  ten 
miles  apart." — Washington  to  General  Heath. 

TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBEE  9. 

Six  miles  from  Wilmington  :  "  The  enemy  advanced  yes 
terday  with  a  seeming  intention  of  attacking  us  upon  our 
post  near  Newport.  We  waited  for  them  the  whole  day ; 
but  in  the  Evening  they  halted,  at  a  place  called  Milltown, 
about  two  miles  from  us.  ...  The  army  marched  at  two 
o'clock  this  morning,  and  will  take  post  this  evening  upon 
the  high  grounds  near  Chad's  Ford." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

"  September  9th. — Left  Newport  in  the  morning  before  daylight,  and 
marched  to  Chad's  Pord ;  crossed  it,  and  encamped  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Brandywine,  having  information  that  the  enemy  had  marched  far  to  the 
north  of  Newport." — Pickering's  Journal. 

WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBEE  10. 

At  Chadd's  Ford,  Pennsylvania:  Head-quarters  at  the 
house  of  Benjamin  Ring,  one  mile  east  of  the  ford. 

Chadd's  Ford,  Brandywine  Creek,  on  the  heights  east  of  which  the  main 
strength  of  the  army  was  posted,  commanding  the  passage  of  the  creek, 
is  about  thirteen  miles  north  of  Wilmington.  The  battle  of  the  llth, 
however,  was  decided  three  miles  to  the  northward,  near  Birmingham 
Meeting-House,  a  large  body  of  British  troops  under  Cornwallis  having 
crossed  the  creek  at  the  upper  fords. 

THUESDAY,  SEPTEMBEE  11. 

At  the  Battle  of  Brandywine  :  "  Chester,  twelve  o'clock  at 
Night,  11  September,  1777. — I  am  sorry  to  inform  you,  that, 
in  this  day's  engagement,  we  have  been  obliged  to  leave  the 
enemy  masters  of  the  field.  .  .  I  have  directed  all  the  troops 
to  assemble  behind  Chester,  where  they  are  now  arranging 
for  this  night.  Notwithstanding  the  misfortunes  of  the  day, 
I  am  happy  to  find  the  troops  in  good  spirits ;  and  I  hope 
another  time  we  shall  compensate  for  the  losses  now  sus 
tained." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  89 

"  The  American  army  assembled  to  the  East  of  Chester  along  the  Queen's 
Highway,  and  Washington,  after  despatching  the  letter  [to  Congress]  went 
to  the  present  Leiperville,  where,  still  standing  on  the  north  of  the  road,  is 
the  old  stone  house,  then  the  home  of  John  Mcllvuin,  in  which  the  chief 
of  the  retreating  army  passed  the  night  after  the  ill-starred  battle  of  Brandy- 
wine." — Ashmead's  History  of  Delaware  County,  p.  65. 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  12. 

On  the  march  to  Philadelphia :  "  September  12th. — This 
day  the  army  marched  to  the  Schuylkill,  part  crossing  and 
marching  to  our  old  camp  by  Schuylkill  Falls.  The  enemy 
lay  still  near  the  field  of  battle." — Pickering's  Journal. 

"  September  13th. — The  rest  of  the  army  crossed,  and  the  whole  collected 
at  the  old  encampment,  vast  numbers  of  stragglers  coming  in." — Pickering's 
Journal. 

SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  13. 

At  Schuylkill  Falls  :  Orderly  Book.—"  The  General,  with 
peculiar  satisfaction,  thanks  the  gallant  officers  and  soldiers 
who  on  the  llth  inst.  bravely  fought  in  their  country's 
cause.  Although  the  events  of  that  day,  from  some  unfor 
tunate  circumstances,  were  not  so  favorable  as  could  be 
wished,  the  General  has  the  satisfaction  of  assuring  the 
troops  that  from  every  account  he  has  been  able  to  obtain, 
the  enemy's  loss  vastly  exceeded  ours." 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  14. 

Leaves  Schuylkill  Falls :  "  September  14th. — The  army 
having  yesterday  cleaned  their  arms,  and  received  ammu 
nition  to  complete  forty  rounds  a  man,  this  day  marched  up 
a  few  miles  and  recrossed  the  Schuylkill  at  Levering's  Ford, 
the  water  being  nearly  up  to  the  waist.  We  advanced  about 
five  or  six  miles  that  night." — Pickering's  Journal. 

Levering's  Ford,  on  the  Schuylkill,  was  at  Green  Lane,  two  miles  above 
the  Falls,  but  the  crossing  was  really  made  at  Matson's  Ford,  now  Consho- 
hocken,  six  miles  farther  up  the  stream. 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  15. 

At   the  Buck  Tavern :   "  Three   o'clock,  P.M. — "We  are 


90  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1777 

moving  up  this  Road  [the  old  Lancaster  road]  to  get  between 
the  Enemy  and  Swede's  Ford,  and  to  prevent  them  from 
turning  our  right  flank." — Washington  to  the  President  of 
Congress. 

The  Buck  Tavern,  about  nine  miles  northwest  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  old 
Lancaster  road,  Delaware  County,  Pennsylvania,  a  well-known  hostelry  of 
its  day,  is  still  standing,  but  occupied  as  a  private  house.  The  army  ad 
vanced  the  same  day  thirteen  miles  farther  up  the  road  to  a  point  near  the 
junction  of  the  Swede's  Ford  road,  northwest  of  the  Warren  Tavern,  in 
Chester  County,  and  encamped  between  that  point  and  the  White  Horse 
Tavern,  Washington  making  his  head-quarters  at  the  residence  of  Joseph 
Malin,  about  half  a  mile  west  of  the  Warren  Tavern.  The  house  is  still 
standing. 

TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBEK  16. 

Near  the  White  Horse  Tavern:  "About  nine  in  the 
morning  we  were  informed  that  the  enemy  were  advancing 
towards  us.  The  troops  got  under  arms,  and  the  baggage 
was  sent  off.  An  advance  party  of  the  enemy  attacked  our 
picket,  just  posted  (about  three  hundred  strong),  who  shame 
fully  fled  at  the  first  fire.  About  this  time  it  began  to  rain. 
General  Scott,  with  his  brigade,  was  ordered  to  advance  to 
attack  this  party  of  the  enemy,  or  skirmish  with  another 
expected  in  our  front.  The  rain  increased." — Pickering's 
Journal. 

The  rain  finally  turned  into  such  a  violent  storm  that  the  arms  became 
absolutely  unfit  for  use,  and  orders  were  given  to  march  to  the  Yellow 
Springs,  a  distance  of  five  miles  to  the  northward,  where  the  troops  arrived 
about  ten  o'clock  at  night.  Washington  himself  is  said  to  have  passed  the 
night  at  the  Red  Lion  Tavern  (now  Lionville),  about  three  miles  from  the 
Springs. 

WEDNESDAY,  SETEMBEK  17. 

At  the  Yellow  Springs,  Pennsylvania:  "Yesterday  the 
enemy  moved  from  Concord,  by  the  Edgemont  road  toward 
the  Lancaster  road,  with  evident  design  to  gain  our  right 
flank.  This  obliged  us  to  alter  our  position  and  march  to 
this  place,  from  whence  we  intend  immediately  to  proceed 


1777]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  91 

to  "Warwick.  "We  suffered  much,  from  the  severe  weather 
yesterday  and  last  night,  being  unavoidably  separated  from 
our  tents  and  baggage." — Washington  to  the  President  of 
Congress. 

Part  of  the  army  marched  to  Warwick  Furnace,  on  French  Creek,  eight 
miles  north  of  the  Yellow  Springs,  and  about  nine  miles  from  the  Schuyl- 
kill  Kiver,  on  the  17th,  where  they  were  joined  by  the  rest  on  the  following 
day.  "Warwick  Furnace  was  a  depot  for  the  manufacture  and  repair  of 
guns,  and  casting  of  cannon,  sixty  of  which,  for  the  use  of  the  Continental 
army,  of  twelve-  and  eighteen-pound  calibre,  were  cast  in  1776. 

THUKSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18. 

At  "Warwick  Furnace :  "  The  Army  here  is  so  much, 
fatigued  that  it  is  impossible  I  should  move  them  this  after 
noon." —  Washington  to  General  Wayne,  MS.  Letter. 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  19. 

At  Parker's  Ford :  "  I  am  now  repassing  the  Schuylkill 
at  Parker's  Ford  [Lawrenceville],  with  the  main  body  of 
the  army,  which  will  be  over  in  an  hour  or  two,  though  it  is 
deep  and  rapid.  .  .  .  As  soon  as  the  troops  have  crossed  the 
river,  I  shall  march  them  as  expeditiously  as  possible  towards 
Fatland,  Swede's,  and  the  other  fords,  where  it  is  most 
probable  the  enemy  will  attempt  to  pass." —  Washington  to 
the  President  of  Congress. 

The  army  marched  southward  from  Parker's  Ford,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  by  way  of  the  Trappe  (a  village  on  the  Reading  road,  twenty-five 
miles  from  Philadelphia),  as  far  as  Perkiomen  Creek,  where  it  encamped. 
"His  Excellency  General  Washington  was  with  the  troops  in  person,  who 
marched  past  here  [the  Trappe]  to  the  Perkiomen.  The  procession  lasted 
the  whole  night,  and  we  had  numerous  visits  from  officers,  wet  breast  high, 
who  had  to  march  in  this  condition  during  the  whole  night,  cold  and  damp 
as  it  was,  and  to  bear  hunger  and  thirst  at  the  same  time." — Muhlenberg's 
Journal,  September  19,  1777. 

On  the  21st,  the  enemy  having  moved  rapidly  up  the  road  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Schuylkill  towards  Reading,  a  depot  of  supplies,  Washington 
marched  the  troops  to  within  four  miles  of  Pottsgrove  (now  Pottstown), 
eight  miles  above  the  Trappe.  Here  he  remained  until  the  26th,  when  he 
moved  to  Pennybacker's  Mills,  on  the  Perkiomen,  nine  miles  to  the  east 
ward. 


92  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1777 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBEK  22. 

At  Pottsgrove :  "  The  distressed  situation  of  the  army  for 
want  of  blankets,  and  many  necessary  articles  of  cloathing, 
is  truly  deplorable ;  and  must  inevitably  be  destructive  to  it, 
unless  a  speedy  remedy  be  applied." —  Washington  to  Alexan 
der  Hamilton. 

"While  the  army  lay  near  Pottsgrove  (now  Pottstown),  "Washington  is 
said  to  have  made  his  head-quarters  at  the  "Potts  Mansion,"  erected  in 
1753  by  John  Potts,  the  founder  of  the  town.  The  house,  a  notable  build 
ing  of  the  day,  is  now  occupied  as  a  hotel. 

TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBEK  23. 

At  Pottsgrove :  "  The  Enemy  by  a  variety  of  perplexing 
manceuvres  through  a  Country  from  which  I  could  not 
derive  the  least  intelligence  (being  to  a  man  disaffected), 
contrived  to  pass  the  Schuylkill  last  night  at  the  Fatland 
[half  a  mile  below  Valley  Forge],  and  other  fords  in  the 
neighborhood  of  it.  They  marched  immediately  towards 
Philadelphia,  and  I  imagine  their  advanced  parties  will  be 
near  the  City  to-night.  .  .  Messieurs  Carroll,  Chase,  and 
Penn,  who  were  some  days  with  the  army,  can  inform  Con 
gress  in  how  deplorable  a  situation  the  Troops  are,  for  want 
of  that  necessary  article  [shoes].  At  least  one  thousand 
men  are  bare-footed,  and  have  performed  the  marches  in 
that  condition." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"September  26th,  1777. — At  half  past  eight  this  morning  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  with  the  two  Battalions  of  British  Grenadiers  and  Hessian  Grenadiers, 
two  squadrons  of  Sixteenth  dragoons  and  artillery  with  the  Chief-Engineer, 
Commanding  officer  of  Artillery,  Quartermaster  and  Adjutant-General 
marched  and  took  possession  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia  at  10  the  same 
morning  amidst  the  acclamation  of  some  thousands  of  the  inhabitants 
mostly  women  and  children." — Journal  of  Captain  John  Montresor,  Chief  - 
Engineer  of  the  British  Army,  "Pennsylvania  Magazine",vi.  41. 

THUKSDAY,  SEPTEMBEK  25. 

At  Pottsgrove  :  "  To-day  it  rains.  To-morrow  morning, 
at  nine  o'clock  we  march  and  join  McDougall.  Pretty 
soon,  I  imagine,  we  shall  proceed  to  attack  the  enemy,  if 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  93 

their  post  is  practicable." — Colonel  Pickering  to  John  Picker 
ing. 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBEE  26. 

At  Pottsgrove :  "  "We  shall  move  towards  Philadelphia 
to-day,  as  the  weather  is  fair  and  our  reinforcements  are  at 
some  distance  below,  ready  to  fall  in  with  us." — John  Laureris 
to  Henry  Laurens. 

"  We  are  now  in  motion,  and  advancing  to  form  a  junction  with  Gcnl. 
McDougall.  I  expect  to  be  joined  in  a  day  or  two  by  Genl.  Foreman,  with 
fourteen  or  fifteen  hundred  Jersey  militia." — Washington  to  Elbridge  Gerry, 
September  2G. 

SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  27. 

At  Pennybacker's  Mills :  "  You  are  hereby  authorized  to 
impress  all  the  Blankets,  Shoes,  Stockings  and  other  Arti 
cles  of  Clothing  that  can  be  spared  by  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
County  of  Lancaster  for  the  Use  of  the  Continental  Army, 
paying  for  the  same  at  reasonable  Eates  or  giving  Certifi 
cates." —  Washington  to  William  Henry,  Lancaster,  MS.  Letter. 

Washington  reached  Pennybacker's  (formerly  Pauling's)  Mills,  now 
Schwenksville,  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  September  26, 
making  his  head-quarters  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Pennybacker,  the  owner 
of  the  mills.  The  house,  a  two-story  stone  building,  is  still  standing. 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28. 

At  Pennybacker's  Mills :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  has  the  happiness  again  to  congratulate  the 
army  on  the  success  of  the  Americans  to  the  Northward. 
On  the  19th  inst.  an  engagement  took  place  [at  Stillwater, 
New  York]  between  General  Burgoyne's  army  and  the  left 
wing  of  ours,  under  General  Gates.  The  battle  began  at 
10  o'clock,  and  lasted  till  night — our  troops  fighting  with 
the  greatest  bravery,  not  giving  an  inch  of  ground.  .  .  To 
celebrate  this  success  the  General  orders  that  at  4  o'clock 
this  afternoon  all  the  troops  be  paraded  and  served  with  a 


94  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  [1777 

gill  of  rum  per  man,  and  that  at  the  same  time  there  be 
discharges  of  13  pieces  of  artillery  from  the  park." 

At  a  council  of  war  held  this  day,  the  Continental  force  was  thus  outlined 
by  Washington  :  McDougall,  with  about  nine  hundred  men,  had  joined  the 
army  ;  Smallwood  had  also  come  in  with  about  eleven  hundred  of  the  Mary 
land  militia ;  Forman,  with  about  six  hundred  of  the  Jersey  militia,  was  on 
the  Skippack  road,  and  near  the  main  body.  The  number  of  Continental 
troops  in  camp,  fit  for  duty,  exclusive  of  the  detachment  under  McDougall, 
and  that  under  Wayne  at  the  Trappe,  was  five  thousand  four  hundred  and 
seventy-two,  to  which  was  to  be  added  Maxwell's  light  corps  (about  four 
hundred  and  fifty),  and  the  Pennsylvania  militia  under  Armstrong.  Upon 
the  whole  the  army  would  consist  of  about  eight  thousand  Continental 
troops  rank  and  file,  and  three  thousand  militia.  The  Council  decided 
against  an  immediate  attack  on  the  enemy,  and  that  the  army  should  move 
to  a  proper  camp  about  twelve  miles  from  them  to  await  reinforcements  and 
a  more  fitting  opportunity  to  attack. 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBEK  29. 

At  Pennybacker's  Mills  :  "  I  shall  move  the  Army  four 
or  five  miles  lower  down  to  day,  from  whence  we  may  rec 
onnoitre  and  fix  upon  a  proper  situation,  at  such  distance 
from  the  Enemy,  as  will  entitle  us  to  make  an  attack,  should 
we  see  a  proper  opening,  or  stand  upon  the  defensive  till  we 
obtain  further  reinforcements.  This  was  the  opinion  of  a 
majority  of  a  Council  of  General  officers  which  I  called 
yesterday." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  September  29th. — We  marched  from  Pennybacker's  Mills  down  to 
Skippack,  within  about  twenty-five  miles  from  Philadelphia." — Pickering's 
Journal. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  1. 

At  Skippack :  "  I  hope  that  a  little  time  and  perseverance 
will  give  us  some  favorable  opportunity  of  recovering  our 
loss,  and  of  putting  our  affairs  in  a  more  flourishing  condi 
tion.  Our  army  has  now  had  the  rest  and  refreshment  it 
stood  in  need  of,  and  our  soldiers  are  in  very  good  spirits." 
—  Washington  to  Governor  TrumbulL 

"  October  2d. — The  [army]  marched  about  five  miles  farther  down  on  the 
Skippack  road  to  Worcester  Township." — Pickering's  Journal. 

It  was  from  this  point,  "  Methacton  Hill,"  that  the  army  started,  at 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  95 

seven  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  October  3,  to  attack  the  enemy  at  German- 
town. 

FRIDAY,  OCTOBER  3. 

At  Worcester :  "  Since  my  letter  of  the  29th.  no  favor 
able  change  has  taken  place  in  our  affairs ;  on  the  contrary, 
we  have  sustained  an  additional  loss  in  the  capture  of  the 
Delaware." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

The  frigate  Delaware,  of  Commodore  Hazlewood's  fleet  on  the  river 
Delaware,  in  conjunction  with  the  frigate  Montgomery,  each  of  twenty- 
four  guns,  the  sloop  Fly,  and  several  galleys  and  gondolas,  began  a  cannon 
ade  on  the  morning  of  September  27th,  against  the  batteries  in  course  of 
erection  by  the  British  in  front  of  Philadelphia.  On  the  falling  of  the  tide 
the  Delaware  grounded.  In  this  disabled  condition  the  guns  from  the 
batteries  soon  compelled  her  colors  to  be  struck,  and  she  was  taken  by  the 
enemy. 

SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  4. 

At  the  Battle  of  Germantown :  "  In  the  midst  of  the  most 
promising  appearances,  when  every  thing  gave  the  most 
flattering  hopes  of  victory,  the  troops  began  suddenly  to 
retreat,  and  entirely  left  the  field,  in  spite  of  every  effort 
that  could  be  made  to  rally  them." —  Washington  to  the  Presi 
dent  of  Congress,  October  5. 

"After  the  army  were  all  retreating,  I  expected  they  would  have  re 
turned  to  their  last  encampment,  about  twelve  or  thirteen  miles  from  the 
enemy  at  Germantown;  but  the  retreat  was  continued  upwards  of  twenty 
miles  ;  so  that  all  those  men,  who  retired  so  far,  this  day  marched  upwards 
of  thirty  miles  without  rest,  besides  being  up  all  the  preceding  night  with 
out  sleep." — Pickering'1  s  Journal. 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  5. 

At  Pennybacker's  Mills:  "October  5th. — This  day  and 
the  following  the  stragglers  had  generally  joined  the  army 
over  Perkiomen  Creek.  After  remaining  here  a  few  days, 
the  army  removed  to  Towamensing  Township." — Pickering's 
Journal. 


96  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1777 

"  The  Commander-in-Cbief  returns  his  thanks  to  the  generals  and  other 
officers  and  men  concerned  in  the  attack  on  the  enemy's  left  wing,  for  their 
spirit  and  bravery,  shown  in  driving  the  enemy  from  field  to  field,  and 
although  an  unfortunate  fog,  joined  with  the  smoke,  prevented  the  different 
brigades  from  seeing  and  supporting  each  other,  or  sometimes  even  from 
distinguishing  their  fire  from  the  enemy's,  and  some  other  causes,  which  as 
yet  cannot  be  accounted  for,  they  finally  retreated,  they  nevertheless  see 
that  the  enemy  is  not  proof  against  a  vigorous  attack,  and  may  be  put  to 
flight  when  boldly  pursued." — Orderly  Book,  October  5. 

MONDAY,  OCTOBER  6. 

At  Pennjbacker's  Mills :  "  Camp  near  Perkioming  Creek, 
6th  October  1777. — Since  the  action  we  have  received  a 
considerable  reinforcement  from  Virginia,  and  our  excellent 
General  Washington  has  collected  his  force  at  the  place 
from  whence  I  date  this  letter,  and  intends  soon  to  try 
another  bout  with  them.  All  our  men  are  in  good  spirits 
and  I  think  grow  fonder  of  fighting  the  more  they  have  of 
it." — Letter  in  the  Continental  Journal,  October  30. 

"  Our  men  are  in  the  highest  spirits,  and  ardently  desire  another  trial. 
I  know  of  no  ill  consequences  that  can  follow  the  late  action  ;  on  the  con 
trary,  we  have  gained  considerable  experience,  and  our  army  have  a  certain 
proof  that  the  British  troops  are  vulnerable." — General  Knox  to  Artemas 
Ward,  October  7. 

TUESDAY,  OCTOBER  7. 

At  Pennybacker's  Mills :  "  My  intention  is  to  encamp  the 
army  at  some  suitable  place  to  rest  arid  refresh  the  men, 
and  recover  them  from  the  still  remaining  effects  of  that 
disorder  naturally  attendant  on  a  retreat." — Washington  to 
the  President  of  Congress. 

On  this  day  Washington  received  a  committee  of  six  prominent  Friends, 
appointed  by  the  Philadelphia  Yearly  Meeting  to  visit  "  William  Howe, 
General  of  the  British  Army,  and  George  Washington,  General  of  the 
American  Army,"  for  the  purpose  of  presenting  them  the  Society's  "testi 
mony"  against  war,  and  of  explaining  the  position  the  Friends  occupied  as 
non-resistants,  conscientiously  restrained  from  bearing  arms  on  either  side. 
Committee:  Samuel  Emlen,  William  Brown,  Joshua  Morris,  James  Thorn 
ton,  Warner  Mifflin,  and  Nicholas  Wain.  The  committee  were  kindly 
entertained  by  the  Commander-in-Chief,  after  which  he  sent  them  to  Potts- 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  97 

grove,  to  remain  a  few  days,  in  order  that,  should  they  be  exposed  to 
British  questioning,  on  their  return  to  Philadelphia,  they  could  make  the 
reply  that  it  had  been  some  time  since  they  left  head-quarters. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  8. 

At  Pennybacker's  Mills :  "  The  army  here  marches  this 
morning,  from  hence  to  the  Baptist  Meeting  House  in 
Montgomery  [Towamencin]  Township." — Washington  to 
General  Varnum. 

The  Baptist  or  Mennonite  Meeting-House  referred  to  in  the  letter  to  Gen 
eral  Yarnum  is  on  the  Sumneytown  road,  in  Towamencin  Township,  near 
Kulpsville,  three  miles  northeast  of  the  Skippack  road,  and  twenty-six  from 
Philadelphia.  The  burial-ground  attached  thereto  contains  the  remains  of 
General  Nash,  of  North  Carolina,  and  other  officers,  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Germantown,  and  who  died  in  this  vicinity. 

THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  9. 

At  Towamencin :  Orderly  Book. — "  Brigadier-general 
Nash  will  be  interred  at  10  o'clock  this  forenoon,  with  mili 
tary  honors,  at  the  place  where  the  road  where  the  troops 
marched  on  yesterday  comes  into  the  great  road.  All 
officers,  whose  circumstances  will  admit  of  it,  will  attend 
and  pay  this  respect  to  a  brave  man  who  died  in  defence  of 
his  country." 

Washington's  head-quarters  at  Towamencin  were  at  the  farm-house  of 
Frederick  Wampole,  about  a  mile  above  Kulpsville,  and  half  a  mile  north 
of  the  Mennonite  Meeting-House.  The  house  was  taken  down  in  1881. 

SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  11. 

At  Towamencin :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commr  in  Chief 
has  the  pleasure  to  inform  the  army  that  Congress  has  in 
an  unanimous  Resolve  express'd  their  thanks  to  the  Officers 
and  Men,  concern'd  in  the  attack  on  the  Enemy  near  Ger 
mantown  on  the  4th  Inst.  for  their  brave  exertions  on  that 
Occasion,  and  hopes  the  approbation  of  that  Honble  Body 
will  stimulate  them  to  still  nobler  Efforts  on  every  future 
Occasion." 

8 


98  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1777 

MONDAY,  OCTOBER  13. 

At  Towamencin :  "  With  regard  to  the  army  'tis  in  good 
spirits,  and  reenforced,  since  the  last  action,  by  the  arrival 
of  some  troops  from  Peekskill  [under  General  Varnum], 
and  five  regiments  of  militia  from  Virginia,  and  one  regi 
ment  from  Virginia  well  disciplined,  being  the  State  regi 
ment.  But  Pennsylvania,  from  which  we  ought  to  have  the 
largest  reinforcements  of  militia,  has  now  but  about  twelve 
hundred  men  in  the  field;  whereas  they  should  have  as 
many  thousand,  if  needed." — Colonel  Pickering  to  Mrs.  Pick 
ering. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  15. 

At  Towamencin :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  General  has  the 
repeated  pleasure  of  informing  the  army  of  the  success  of 
the  troops  under  the  command  of  General  Gates  over  Gen 
eral  Burgoyne's  army  on  the  7th  inst.  [the  second  battle  of 
Stillwater].  The  action  commenced  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  between  the  pickets  of  the  two  armies,  which 
were  reinforced  on  both  sides.  The  contest  was  warm,  and 
continued  till  night  with  obstinacy,  when  our  troops  gained 
the  advanced  lines  of  the  enemy,  and  encamped  on  that 
ground  all  night." 

THURSDAY,   OCTOBER  16. 

At  "Worcester :  "  We  moved  this  morning  from  the  en 
campment  at  which  we  had  been  for  six  or  seven  days  past, 
and  are  just  arrived  at  the  grounds  we  occupied  before  the 
action  of  the  4th.  One  motive  for  coming  here  is  to  divert 
the  enemy's  attention  and  force  from  the  forts  [on  the  Dela 
ware]." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

At  Worcester,  head-quarters  were  at  the  house  of  Peter  Wentz,  still 
standing  on  the  road  from  Centre  Point  to  Heehnersville,  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  from  the  former  place  and  one  mile  and  a  quarter  from  the  latter.  The 
house,  a  substantial  two-story  stone  building,  was  erected  in  1758.  Since 
1794,  the  property  has  been  in  possession  of  the  Schultz  family. 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.  99 

SATUKDAT,  OCTOBER  18. 

At  Worcester :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  General  has  his 
happiness  completed  relative  to  the  successes  of  the  Northern 
army.  On  the  14th  instant  General  Burgoyne  and  his  whole 
army  surrendered  themselves  prisoners  of  war.  Let  every 
face  brighten,  and  every  heart  expand  with  grateful  joy  and 
praise  to  the  Supreme  Disposer  of  all  events,  who  has 
granted  us  this  signal  success.  The  chaplains  of  the  army 
are  to  prepare  short  discourses,  suited  to  the  occasion,  to 
deliver  to  their  several  corps  and  brigades  at  five  o'clock 
this  afternoon." 

This  order  was  based  on  a  despatch  received  from  Governor  Clinton,  dated 
Albany,  October  15, 1777  :  "  Last  night  at  8  o'clock  the  capitulation  whereby 
General  Burgoyne  &  whole  Army  surrendered  themselves  Prisoners  of  War, 
was  signed  and  this  Morning  they  have  to  march  out  towds.  the  River,  above 
Fish  Creek  with  the  Honours  of  War  (and  there  ground  their  Arms)  they 
are  from  thence  to  be  marched  to  Massachusetts  bay."  Negotiations  for  the 
surrender  were  commenced  on  the  14th,  but  the  articles  of  the  "  Convention 
between  Lieutenant-general  Burgoyne  and  Major-general  Gates"  were  not 
signed  by  Burgoyne  until  the  morning  of  the  17th  of  October. 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBEE  19. 

At  "Worcester :  "  The  defeat  of  General  Burgoyne  is  a 
most  important  event,  and  such  as  must  afford  the  highest 
satisfaction  to  every  well-affected  American.  Should  Provi 
dence  be  pleased  to  crown  our  arms  in  the  course  of  the 
campaign  with  one  more  fortunate  stroke,  I  think  we  shall 
have  no  great  cause  for  anxiety  respecting  the  future  designs 
of  Britain." —  Washington  to  General  Putnam. 

"  Last  Sunday  [October  19]  the  enemy  entirely  evacuated  Germantown, 
and  retired  near  Philadelphia,  encamping  round  about  the  city,  within  a 
circuit  of  a  mile  or  a  mile  and  a  half  from  it;  and,  to  secure  this  camp 
they  have  thrown  up  a  number  of  breastworks  or  redoubts.  This  will 
render  an  attack  upon  them  difficult." — Colonel  Pickering  to  Mrs.  Pickering, 
October  20. 

TUESDAY,  OCTOBER  21. 

At  Whitpain :   "  October  21st. — The  army  moved  lower 


100  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1777 

down  to  Whitpain  Township,  within  fifteen  miles  of  Phila 
delphia.  Head-quarters  at  Mr.  Morris's." — Pickering's  Jour 
nal. 

Washington's  head -quarters  at  Whitpain  were  at  the  house  of  James 
Morris,  between  the  Skippack  and  Morris  roads,  and  about  one  mile  west 
of  the  present  village  of  Ambler.  The  original  building,  a  solid  stone 
structure,  erected  in  1736  by  Abraham  Dawes,  father  of  Mrs.  Morris,  was 
enlarged  in  1785,  and  in  1821  the  present  south  wing  was  added,  when  the 
front,  which  had  been  south,  was  changed  to  the  west.  The  property,  con 
taining  over  two  hundred  acres  (originally  three  hundred  and  fifty),  now 
called  "  Dawesfield,"  is  still  in  the  family,  the  present  owner,  Mrs.  Saun- 
ders  Lewis,  of  Philadelphia,  being  a  great-granddaughter  of  Abraham 
Dawes. 

FRIDAY,  OCTOBER  24. 

At  "Whitpain :  "  Whereas  sundry  Soldiers  belonging  to 
the  armies  of  the  United  States  have  deserted  from  the 
same ;  These  are  to  make  known  to  all  those  who  have  so 
offended,  and  who  shall  return  to  their  respective  corps,  or 
surrender  themselves  to  the  Officers  appointed  to  receive 
recruits  and  deserters  in  their  several  States,  or  to  any 
Continental  Commissioned  Officer,  before  the  first  day  of 
January  next,  that  they  shall  obtain  a  full  and  free  pardon." 
— Proclamation. 

SATURDAY,   OCTOBER  25. 

At  Whitpain :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Gen1  again  Con 
gratulates  our  Troops  on  the  success  of  our  arms.  On 
Wednesday  last  [October  22]  a  Body  of  about  1200  Hessians 
under  the  Command  of  Count  Donop  made  an  attack  on 
Fort  Mercer  at  Red  Bank,  and  after  an  action  of  40  Minutes 
were  repulsed  with  great  loss.  Count  Donop  himself  is 
wounded  and  taken  prisoner  together  with  his  Brigade 
Major  and  about  100  other  officers  and  soldiers,  and  about 
100  were  left  dead  on  the  Fields,  and  as  they  carried  off 
many  of  their  wounded  their  whole  loss  is  probably  at  least 
400 — our  loss  was  trifling,  the  killed  and  wounded  amount 
ing  only  to  about  32." 


1777]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  101 

On  the  23d  of  October,  the  day  after  the  gallant  defence  of  Port  Mercer, 
the  British  frigate  Augusta,  of  sixty-four  guns,  the  Koebuck,  of  forty-four 
guns,  and  the  Merlin,  of  eighteen  guns,  came  up  as  near  as  they  could  to  the 
upper  chevaux-de-frise  on  the  Delaware,  at  Fort  Mifflin,  when  a  furious  en 
gagement  ensued  between  them  and  the  galleys  and  floating  batteries  of  the 
Pennsylvania  fleet.  About  twelve  o'clock  the  Augusta  blew  up,  and  at 
three  o'clock  the  Merlin  took  fire  and  also  blew  up.  The  Roebuck  dropped 
down  the  river  and  passed  below  the  chevaux-de-frise  at  Billingsport. 

MONDAY,  OCTOBER  27. 

At  Whitpain :  "  The  Northern  army,  before  the  surrender 
of  General  Burgoyne,  was  reenforced  by  upwards  of  1200 
Militia  who  shut  the  only  door  by  which  Burgoyne  could 
Retreat,  and  cut  off  all  his  supplies.  How  different  our 
case !  the  disaffection  of  a  greater  part  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  this  State — the  languor  of  others,  &  internal  distraction 
of  the  whole,  have  been  among  the  great  and  insuperable 
difficulties  I  have  met  with,  and  have  contributed  not  a 
little  to  my  embarassments  this  Campaign." —  Washington  to 
Landon  Carter. 

14  It  is  a  matter  of  astonishment  to  every  part  of  the  continent,  to  hear 
that  Pennsylvania,  the  most  opulent  and  populous  of  all  the  States,  has  but 
twelve  hundred  militia  in  the  field,  at  a  time  when  the  enemy  are  en 
deavouring  to  make  themselves  completely  masters  of,  and  to  fix  their 
winter  quarters  in,  her  capital." — Washington  to  Thomas  Wharton,  October 
17. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  29. 

At  Whitpain :  A  council  of  war,  at  which  it  was  decided 
not  to  be  advisable  to  make  an  attack  upon  Philadelphia ; 
that  the  army  should  take  a  position  to  the  left  of  its  pres 
ent  station,  and  that  twenty  regiments  should  be  drawn 
from  the  northern  army. 

To  the  council  General  Washington  made  the  following  report  as  to  the 
strength  of  the  two  armies.  That  the  troops  under  Sir  William  Howe  pres 
ent  and  fit  for  duty  amounted,  according  to  the  best  intelligence  he  could 
obtain,  to  ten  thousand  rank  and  file,  stationed  at  Philadelphia  and  its  im 
mediate  vicinity ;  and  that  the  force  under  his  command,  present  and  fit  for 
duty,  was  eight  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirteen  Continental  troops, 
and  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventeen  militia.  There  were,  in 


102  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1777 

addition,  seven  hundred  and  fifty  Continental  troops  at  Red  Bank  and  Fort 
Mifflin,  and  a  detachment  of  three  hundred  militia  on  their  way  to  reinforce 
those  posts.  A  body  of  five  hundred  militia  under  General  Potter  was  like 
wise  on  the  other  side  of  the  Schuylkill. 

THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  30. 

At  Whitpain :  A  general  court-martial,  of  which  General 
Sullivan  was  President,  was  held  at  the  Whitpain  head 
quarters,  the  25th,  26th,  27th,  and  30th  of  October,  for  the 
trial  of  Brigadier-General  Wayne,  on  the  following  charge : 

"  That  he  had  timely  notice  of  the  enemy's  intention,  to 
attack  the  troops  under  his  command,  on  the  night  of  the 
20th  of  Sept.  last  [at  Paoli],  and  notwithstanding  that  intel 
ligence,  neglected  making  a  disposition,  until  it  was  too 
late  either  to  annoy  the  enemy,  or  make  retreat,  without 
the  utmost  danger  and  confusion. 

"  The  Court,  having  fully  considered  the  charge  against 
Brigadier  Gen1  Wayne,  and  the  evidence  produced  to  them, 
are  unanimously  of  opinion  that  Gen1  Wayne  is  not  guilty 
of  the  charge  exhibited  against  him,  but  that  he,  on  the 
night  of  the  20th  Ultimo,  (that  is  of  Sept*  last)  did  every 
thing  that  could  be  expected  from  an  active,  brave,  and 
vigilant  officer,  under  the  orders  he  then  had.  The  Court 
do  acquit  him  with  the  highest  honor." 

"The  Commander  in  chief  approves  the  Sentence." — 
Orderly  Book,  November  1. 

SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  1. 

At  Whitpain :  "At  the  request  of  Governor  Clinton,  I 
have  transmitted  a  copy  of  his  letter  to  me,  giving  an  ac 
count  of  General  Vaughan's  expedition  up  the  North  River 
after  the  capture  of  Fort  Montgomery,  and  of  the  destruc 
tion  committed  by  his  troops  in  burning  Kingston  and  the 
houses  and  mills  on  the  river." —  Washington  to  the  President 
of  Congress. 

Fort  Montgomery,  one  of  the  early  fortifications  of  the  Hudson  High 
lands,  finished  in  the  spring  of  1776,  was  about  six  miles  above  Stony 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  103 

Point.  It  stood  on  a  promontory  on  the  upper  side  of  a  creek  (Poplopen 
Kill),  to  the  south  of  which  was  Fort  Clinton.  Both  of  these  forts,  taken 
by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  October  6,  were  abandoned  by  order  of  General  Howe 
on  the  26th. 

After  removing  the  chevaux-de-frise  at  Fort  Montgomery,  the  British 
passed  up  the  river  with  several  armed  vessels  commanded  by  Sir  James 
"Wallace,  and  a  body  of  troops  under  General  Vaughan.  They  burnt  such 
shipping  as  they  found  in  the  river,  and  also  houses  and  mills  on  the  shore, 
and  on  the  16th  of  October,  led  on  by  General  Vaughan  himself,  set  fire  to 
the  village  of  Kingston.  So  complete  was  the  destruction,  that  not  more 
than  one  house  escaped  the  flames. 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  2. 

At  Whitemarsh :  "November  2d. — The  army  marched  to 
Whitemarsh,  about  thirteen  miles  from  Philadelphia." — 
Pickering's  Journal. 

"Washington's  head-quarters  at  Whitemarsh  were  at  a  large  stone  house, 
still  standing,  about  one-half  a  mile  east  from  Camp  Hill  Station  on  the 
North  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  and  twelve  miles  north  of  Philadelphia. 
The  house,  which  faces  south,  is  two  and  a  half  stories  in  height,  eighty  feet 
front  and  twenty-seven  feet  in  depth;  it  was  modernized  in  1854,  and  a 
large  wing,  originally  the  dining  hall,  removed  from  the  west  end.  Enough 
remains,  however,  of  the  old  building,  and  is  known  about  it,  to  determine 
the  accuracy  of  the  statement  made  by  Lossing  in  1848  (Field-Book,  ii. 
114),  that,  "  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  it  was  a  sort  of  baronial  hall  in 
size  and  character  when  Elmar  [Emlen],  its  wealthy  owner,  dispensed  hos 
pitality  to  all  who  came  under  its  roof."  The  house  with  ninety-two  acres 
is  now  (since  1857)  owned  and  occupied^y  Charles  T.  Aiman.  Camp  Hill, 
on  which  part  of  the  left  wing  of  the  army  was  posted,  is  directly  in  the 
rear  of  the  house. 

TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  4. 

At  Whitemarsh  :  "  Head-quarters  at  George  JSmlen's,  near 
Whitemarsh  Church. — "We  expect  very  soon  a  large  rein 
forcement  from  the  northern  army;  in  the  mean  time  the 
General  has  moved  to  this  camp,  which  though  naturally 
pretty  strong,  he  is  strengthening." — Joseph  Reed  to  Thomas 
Wharton,  November  4. 

WEDNESDAY,  NOVEMBER  5. 

At  Whitemarsh :   "  This  morning  a  heavy  cannonading 


104  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1777 

was  heard  from  below  [on  the  Delaware]  and  continued  till 
afternoon ;  from  the  top  of  Chew's  house  in  German  Town 
to  which  place  the  General  [Washington]  took  a  ride  this 
morning,  we  could  discover  nothing  more  than  thick  clouds 
of  smoak,  and  the  masts  of  two  vessels,  the  weather  being 
very  hazy." — John  Laurens  to  Henry  Laurens. 

"  November  7. — The  cannonading  heard  day  before  yesterday  was  between 
the  Somerset  64  Gun  Ship,  the  Roebuck  and  some  other  vessel  on  the  one 
part,  and  our  row-gallies  seconded  by  a  two  gun  battery  on  the  other." — 
John  Laurens  to  Henry  Laurens. 

FRIDAY,  NOVEMBER  7. 

At  "Whitemarsh  :  Orderly  Book. — "  Since  the  General  left 
Germantown  [Schuylkill  Falls]  in  the  middle  of  September 
last,  he  has  been  without  his  baggage,  and  on  that  account 
is  unable  to  receive  company  in  the  manner  he  could  wish. 
He  nevertheless  desires  the  Generals,  Field  Officers  and 
Brigade-Major  of  the  day,  to  dine  with  him  in  the  future, 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon." 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  9. 

At  Whitemarsh  :  "  A  letter,  which  I  received  last  night 
[from  Lord  Stirling],  contained  the  following  paragraph. 
'  In  a  letter  from  General  Conway  to  General  Gates  he  says, 
"  Heaven  has  been  determined  to  save  your  country  or  a  weak 
General  and  bad  counsellors  would  have  ruined  it" '  " —  Wash 
ington  to  General  Conway. 

This  brief  note  is  the  earliest  public  record  bearing  on  the  subject  of  the 
conspiracy  to  displace  Washington  from  the  command  of  the  army,  known 
as  the  Conway  Cabal.  The  particulars  respecting  this  cabal  will  be  found 
fully  set  forth  by  Sparks,  v.  483. 

THURSDAY,  NOVEMBER  13. 

At  Whitemarsh :  "  The  army  which  I  have  had  under  my 
immediate  command,  has  not,  at  any  one  time  since  General 
Howe's  landing  at  the  Head  of  Elk,  been  equal  in  point  of 
numbers  to  his.  .  .  How  different  the  case  in  the  northern 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  105 

department!  There  the  States  of  New  York  and  New 
England,  resolving  to  crush  Burgoyne,  continued  pouring 
in  their  troops,  till  the  surrender  of  that  army ;  at  which 
time  not  less  than  fourteen  thousand  militia,  as  I  have  been 
informed,  were  actually  in  General  Gates'  camp,  and  those 
composed,  for  the  most  part,  of  the  best  yeomanry  in  the 
country,  well  armed,  and  in  many  instances  supplied  with 
provisions  of  their  own  carrying." — Washington  to  Patrick 
Henry. 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER  17. 

At  "Whitemarsh :  "  I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  Fort 
Mifflin  [on  the  Delaware]  was  evacuated  the  night  before 
last,  after  a  defence  which  does  credit  to  the  American  arms, 
and  will  ever  reflect  the  highest  honor  upon  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  garrison." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Con 
gress. 

As  the  Pennsylvania  fleet  under  Commodore  Hazlewood  could  be  of  no 
further  use  after  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Mifflin,  it  was  decided  to  send  the 
vessels  up  the  Delaware  to  Burlington,  New  Jersey.  The  attempt  was  made 
on  the  night  of  November  19,  and  thirteen  galleys  and  twelve  armed  boats 
succeeded  in  getting  past  the  batteries  at  the  city.  The  following  night,  one 
sloop,  some  ammunition-craft,  and  others  with  cannon,  made  their  way  up. 
Ten  other  vessels,  unable  to  escape,  were  set  on  fire  at  Gloucester  Point,  and 
abandoned. 

SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  22. 

At  Whitemarsh :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander-in- 
Chief  offers  a  reward  of  ten  dollars  to  any  person,  who  shall 
by  nine  o'clock  on  Monday  morning  produce  the  best  sub 
stitute  for  shoes,  made  of  raw  hides." 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  23. 

At  "Whitemarsh :  "  I  am  sorry  to  inform  Congress,  that 
the  enemy  are  now  in  possession  of  all  the  water  defences 
[on  the  Delaware].  .  .  .  The  garrison  [of  Fort  Mercer,  at 
Red  Bank]  was  obliged  to  evacuate  it  on  the  night  of  the 
20th  instant,  on  the  approach  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  who  had 


106  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1777 

crossed  the  river  from  Chester  with  a  detachment,  supposed 
to  be  about  two  thousand  men,  and  formed  a  junction  with 
the  troops  lately  arrived  from  New  York,  and  those  that 
had  been  landed  before  at  Billingsport." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

The  loss  of  Forts  Mifflin  and  Mercer  ended  the  defence  of  the  Delaware. 
The  obstructions  in  the  river  were  removed,  and  the  enemy  had  full  posses 
sion  of  Philadelphia. 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER  24. 

At  Whitemarsh :  A  council  of  war  held  to  consider  the 
expediency  of  an  attack  on  the  enemy's  lines  at  Philadelphia. 

The  Council  adjourned  without  coming  to  a  decision,  and  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  despatching  a  special  messenger  to  General  Greene,  then  at  Mount 
Holly,  New  Jersey,  required  of  the  other  officers  their  written  opinions.  On 
comparing  them,  eleven  were  found  against  making  the  attack,  and  four 
only,  Stirling,  Wayne,  Scott,  and  Woodford,  in  its  favor. 

TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  25. 

At  "Whitemarsh :  "  Col°  Meade  delivered  me  Yours  this 
Morning  as  I  was  on  my  way  to  reconnoitre  the  Enemy's 
Lines  from  the  West  side  of  Schuylkill.  I  had  a  full  view 
of  their  left  and  found  their  works  much  stronger  than  I 
had  reason  to  expect  from  the  Accounts  I  had  received." — 
Washington  to  General  Greene. 

"  Our  Commander-in-chief  wishing  ardently  to  gratify  the  public  expecta 
tion  by  making  an  attack  upon  the  enemy — yet  preferring  at  the  same  time 
a  loss  of  popularity  to  engaging  in  an  enterprise  which  he  could  not  justify 
to  his  own  conscience  and  the  more  respectable  part  of  his  constituents,  went 
yesterday  [November  25]  to  view  the  works.  A  clear  sunshine  favoured 
our  observations :  we  saw  redoubts  of  a  very  respectable  profit,  faced  with 
plank,  formidably  fraised,  and  the  intervals  between  them  closed  with  an 
abattis  unusually  strong.  General  du  Portail  declared  that  in  such  works 
with  five  thousand  men  he  would  bid  defiance  to  any  force  that  should  be 
brought  against  him." — John  Laurens  to  Henry  Laurens,  November  26. 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  30. 

At  Whitemarsh:  A  council  of  war  held  to  consider  a 
proper  place  for  winter-quarters.  No  decision  being  arrived 
at  by  the  board,  Washington  finally  determined  to  establish 


1777]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  107 

a  fortified  encampment  at  Valley  Forge,  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Schujlkill  River. 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  2. 

At  "Whitemarsh  :  "  General  Howe  has  withdrawn  himself 
close  within  his  lines,  which  extend  from  the  Upper  Ferry 
upon  the  Schuylkill  [Callowhill  Street]  to  Kensington  upon 
the  Delaware ;  they  consist  of  a  chain  of  strong  redoubts 
connected  by  abatis.  We  have  reconnoitred  them  well,  but 
find  it  impossible  to  attack  them  while  defended  by  a  force 
fully  equal  to  our  own  in  Continental  troops." —  Washington 
to  General  Gates. 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER  10. 

At  Whitemarsh :  "  In  the  course  of  last  week,  from  a 
variety  of  intelligence,  I  had  reason  to  expect  that  General 
Howe  was  preparing  to  give  us  a  general  action.  Accord 
ingly,  on  Thursday  night  [December  4]  he  moved  from  the 
city  with  all  his  force,  except  a  very  inconsiderable  part  left 
in  his  lines  and  redoubts,  and  appeared  the  next  morning 
on  Chestnut  Hill,  in  front  of,  and  about  three  miles  distant 
from,  our  right  wing.  As  soon  as  their  position  was  dis 
covered,  the  Pennsylvania  militia  were  ordered  from  our 
right,  to  skirmish  with  their  light  advanced  parties ;  and  I 
am  sorry  to  mention,  that  Brigadier-General  Irvine,  who  led 
them  on,  had  the  misfortune  to  be  wounded  and  to  be  made 
prisoner.  Nothing  more  occurred  on  that  day.  On  Friday 
night  [December  5]  the  enemy  changed  their  ground,  and 
moved  to  our  left,  within  a  mile  of  our  line,  where  they  re 
mained  quiet  and  advantageously  posted  the  whole  of  next 
day.  On  Sunday  [December  7]  they  inclined  still  further 
to  our  left;  and,  from  every  appearance,  there  was  reason 
to  apprehend  they  were  determined  on  an  action." —  Wash' 
ington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

In  the  movement  of  Sunday,  the  7th,  the  enemy's  advanced  and  flanking 
parties  were  warmly  attacked  by  Colonel  Morgan  and  his  corps,  and  also  by 


108  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1777 

the  Maryland  militia  under  Colonel  Gist,  but  about  sunset,  after  various 
marches  and  countermarches,  they  halted  for  the  night.  Howe  was  afraid 
to  assail  Washington,  and  on  the  afternoon  of  Monday,  the  8th,  he  changed 
front,  and  by  two  or  three  routes  marched  his  army  back  to  Philadelphia. 

THURSDAY,  DECEMBER  11. 

Leaves  Whitemarsh :  "December  llth. — At  four  o'clock 
the  Whole  Army  were  Order'd  to  March  to  Sweeds  Ford 
[Norristown],  on  the  River  Schuylkill,  about  9  miles  N.W. 
of  Chestnut  Hill,  and  6  from  "White  Marsh  our  present  En 
campment.  At  sun  an  hour  high  the  whole  were  mov'd 
from  the  Lines  and  on  their  march  with  baggage.  This 
Night  encamped  in  a  Semi  Circle  nigh  the  Ford." — Diary 
of  Albigence  Waldo,  "Historical  Magazine,"  v.  129. 

"December  12th. — A  Bridge  of  Waggons  made  across  the  Schuylkill  last 
night  consisting  of  36  waggons,  with  a  bridge  of  Rails  between  each.  Sun 
Set. — We  are  order'd  to  march  over  the  River.  The  army  were  'till  Sun 
Rise  crossing  the  River — some  at  the  Waggon  Bridge,  &  some  at  the  Raft 
Bridge  below.  Cold  &  Uncomfortable." — Diary  of  Albigence  Waldo. 

FRIDAY,  DECEMBER  12. 

At  Swede's  Ford :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander-in- 
Chief,  with  great  pleasure,  expresses  his  approbation  of  the 
behavior  of  the  Pennsylvania  Militia  yesterday,  under  Gen 
eral  Potter,  on  the  vigorous  opposition  they  made  to  a  body 
of  the  enemy  on  the  other  side  of  the  Schuylkill." 

"  On  Thursday  morning  we  marched  from  our  old  encampment,  and  in 
tended  to  pass  the  Schuylkill  at  Madison's  [Matson's]  Ford,  where  a  bridge 
had  been  laid  across  the  river.  When  the  first  division  and  a  part  of  the 
second  had  passed,  they  found  a  body  of  the  enemy,  consisting  from  the 
best  accounts  we  have  been  able  to  obtain,  of  four  thousand  men,  under 
Lord  Cornwallis,  possessing  themselves  of  the  heights  on  both  sides  of  the 
road  leading  from  the  river  and  the  defile  called  the  Gulf.  This  unexpected 
event  obliged  such  of  our  troops,  as  had  crossed,  to  repass,  and  prevented 
our  getting  over  till  the  succeeding  night.  .  .  They  were  met  in  their  ad 
vance  by  General  Potter,  with  part  of  the  Pennsylvania  militia,  who  be 
haved  with  bravery  and  gave  them  every  possible  opposition,  till  he  was 
obliged  to  retreat  from  their  superior  numbers." — Washington  to  the  Presi 
dent  of  Congress,  December  14. 

In  consequence  of  this  movement  of  the  British,  who  were  on  a  foraging 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  109 

expedition,  the  troops  were  ordered  to  march  to  Swede's  Ford,  three  miles 
higher  up  the  river,  where  they  crossed  on  the  night  of  the  12th.  Lord 
Cornwallis,  having  collected  a  good  deal  of  forage,  returned  to  Philadelphia 
on  the  night  of  the  llth. 

SATUKDAY,  DECEMBER  13. 

At  the  Gulf  Mill :  "December  13th.— The  Army  march'd 
three  miles  from  the  "West  side  of  the  River  [Swedes  Ford], 
and  encamp'd  near  a  place  called  the  Gulph  and  not  an  im 
proper  name  either.  For  this  Gulph  seems  well  adapted 
by  its  situation  to  keep  us  from  the  pleasure  &  enjoyments 
of  this  world,  or  being  conversant  with  any  body  in  it." — 
Diary  of  Albigence  Waldo. 

The  Gulf  Mill,  a  substantial  stone  building,  erected  in  1747,  and  still 
standing,  is  situated  at  the  intersection  of  the  Gulf  road  with  Gulf  Creek, 
which  empties  into  the  Schuylkill  at  "West  Conshohocken,  the  Matson's 
Ford  of  the  Revolution.  What  is  understood  as  the  Gulf  is  where  the  creek 
passes  through  the  Gulf  Hill,  and  to  eflect  a  passage  has  cleft  it  to  the  base. 
The  mill,  near  which  Washington  had  his  head-quarters  until  December 
19,*  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  the  river,  and  between  six  and  seven 
miles  from  Valley  Forge. 

The  movements  of  the  army  after  the  battle  of  Germantown  had  been 
entirely  in  what  was  then  Philadelphia  County,  now  (since  1784)  Mont 
gomery  County,  Pennsylvania,  the  townships  or  districts  mentioned  in  the 
"  Itinerary"  being  the  same  as  at  present,  although  not  so  clearly  defined  as 
to  boundaries. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  15. 

At  the  Gulf  Mill :  "  The  army  cross'd  the  Schuylkill  on 
the  13th  and  has  remained  encamped  on  the  heights  on  this 
side.  Our  truly  republican  general  has  declared  to  his  offi 
cers  that  he  will  set  the  example  of  passing  the  winter  in  a 
hut  himself.  The  precise  position  is  not  as  yet  fixed  upon, 

*  Tradition  points  to  a  house  which  stood  about  one  mile  north  of  the 
Gulf  Mill,  and  half  a  mile  east  of  the  road,  as  having  been  Washington's 
head-quarters.  It  was  known  as  "  Walnut  Grove,"  the  residence  of  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Isaac  Hughes,  Pennsylvania  Militia,  built  prior  to  1743  by 
his  father,  John  Hughes,  stamp  officer.  The  house,  which  was  a  notable 
building  of  the  day,  was  taken  down  about  twenty-five  years  ago. 


110  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1777 

in  which  our  huts  are  to  be  constructed ;  it  will  probably  be 
determined  this  day." — John  Laurens  to  Henry  Laurens. 

"December  16th. — Cold  Kainy  Day — Baggage  ordered  over  the  Gulph,  of 
our  Division,  which  were  to  march  at  Ten — but  the  baggage  was  order'd 
back  and  for  the  first  time  since  we  have  been  here  the  Tents  were  pitch 'd 
to  keep  the  men  more  comfortable." — Diary  of  Albigence  Waldo. 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER  17. 

At  the  Gulf  Mill :  Orderly  Book.—"  The  Commander  in 
Chief,  with  the  highest  satisfaction,  expresses  his  thanks  to 
the  officers  and  soldiers  for  the  fortitude  and  patience  with 
which  they  have  sustained  the  fatigue  of  the  campaign. 
Although,  in  some  instances  [we]  unfortunately,  failed; 
yet  upon  the  whole  Heaven  hath  smiled  upon  our  arms  and 
crowned  them  with  signal  success ;  and  we  may  upon  the 
best  grounds  conclude,  that,  by  a  spirited  continuance  of 
the  measures  necessary  for  our  defence,  we  shall  finally 
obtain  the  end  of  our  warfare,  Independence,  Liberty,  and 
Peace." 

THUKSDAY,  DECEMBER  18. 

At  the  Gulf  Mill:  This  day  having  been  set  apart  by 
Congress  for  public  thanksgiving  and  prayer,  the  army  re 
mained  in  its  quarters,  and  the  chaplains  performed  service 
with  their  several  corps  and  brigades. 

FRIDAY,  DECEMBER  19. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  "December  19th. — The  camp  moved  to 
near  the  Valley  Forge,  where  we  immediately  struck  up 
temporary  huts  covered  with  leaves.  In  a  few  days  we 
began  the  building  of  our  log  huts." — Diary  of  Joseph 
Clark,  "  Proceedings  New  Jersey  Hist.  Soc.,"  vii.  103. 

In  general  orders  of  December  18,  Washington  gave  explicit  directions 
for  constructing  the  huts.  He  ordered  the  colonels  or  commanding  officers 
of  regiments  to  cause  their  men  to  be  divided  into  parties  of  twelve,  and 
see  that  each  party  had  its  proportion  of  tools,  and  commence  a  hut  for  that 
number ;  and,  as  an  encouragement  to  industry  and  art,  the  general  prom- 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.  HI 

ised  to  reward  the  party  in  each  regiment  which  finished  its  hut  in  the 
quickest  and  most  workmanlike  manner,  with  a  present  of  twelve  dollars. 
He  also  offered  a  reward  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  the  officer  or  soldier  who 
should  substitute  a  covering  for  the  huts,  cheaper  and  more  quickly  made 
than  boards.  The  exact  dimensions  and  style  of  the  huts  were  also  care 
fully  set  forth. 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  20. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  army  being  now 
come  to  a  fixed  station,  the  Brigadiers  and  officers  com 
manding  brigades,  are  immediately  to  take  effectual  meas 
ures  to  collect  and  bring  to  camp  all  the  officers  and  soldiers 
at  present  scattered  about  the  country." 

Valley  Forge  is  situated  in  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Schuylkill  River,  about  twenty-two  miles  northwest  of 
Philadelphia.  Upon  the  hills  surrounding  the  valley,  then  partly  in  Phil 
adelphia  (now  Montgomery)  County  and  partly  in  Chester  County,  Wash 
ington  established  the  winter-quarters  of  the  army,  occupying  his  marquee 
until  the  huts  were  completed.  "When  the  men  were  comfortably  settled, 
the  Commander-in-Chief  took  up  his  own  quarters  in  the  village,  at  the 
small  two-story  stone  house  of  Isaac  Potts,  near  the  mouth  of  Valley  Creek. 
The  house,  which  is  still  standing,  was  purchased  in  1879,  together  with  two 
and  one-half  acres  of  land,  by  an  association  entitled  the  "  Centennial  and 
Memorial  Association  of  Valley  Forge,"  organized  and  incorporated  for 
the  purpose  of  preserving  it  as  Washington's  head-quarters.  Quite  re 
cently  an  additional  acre  and  a  half  have  been  purchased,  making  altogether 
four  acres  of  land  immediately  contiguous  and  pertaining  to  the  VALLEY 
FORGE  HEAD-QUARTERS. 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  21. 

At  Valley  Forge :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  General  con 
gratulates  the  army,  on  the  arrival  of  a  French  Ship,  at 
Portsmouth,  with  48  brass  cannon — 4  pounders,  with  car 
riages  complete — 19  nine  Inch  mortars — 2500  nine  inch 
bombs — 2000,  four  pound  ball — entrenching  tools — 4100 
stands  of  arms — a  quantity  of  powder — and  61.051  Ibs.  of 
sulphur." 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  22. 

At  Valley  Forge :   "  It  is  with  infinite  pain  and  concern, 


112  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1777 

that  I  transmit  to  Congress  the  enclosed  copies  of  sundry 
letters  respecting  the  state  of  the  commissary's  department. 
In  these  matters  are  not  exaggerated." —  Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

These  letters  were  from  Generals  Huntington  and  Varnum.  The  latter 
used  the  following  language :  "  Three  days  successively  we  have  been  des 
titute  of  bread.  Two  days  we  have  been  entirely  without  meat.  The  men 
must  be  supplied,  or  they  cannot  be  commanded." 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  23. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  "  I  am  now  convinced  beyond  a  doubt, 
that,  unless  some  great  and  capital  change  suddenly  takes 
place  in  that  line  [the  commissary's  department],  this  army 
must  inevitably  be  reduced  to  one  or  other  of  these  three 
things ;  starve,  dissolve,  or  disperse  in  order  to  obtain  sub 
sistence  in  the  best  manner  they  can." —  Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

Notwithstanding  this  deplorable  condition  of  the  army,  there  were  not 
wanting  those  who  complained  of  its  inactivity,  and  insisted  on  a  winter 
campaign.  At  this  time,  the  whole  number  of  men  in  camp  was  eleven 
thousand  and  ninety-eight,  of  whom  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety- 
eight  were  unfit  for  duty,  "  because  they  were  barefoot  and  otherwise  naked." 
In  making  this  statement  to  Congress,  and  alluding  to  a  memorial,  or  a  re 
monstrance,  of  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  against  his  going  into  winter- 
quarters,  Washington  said,  "  I  can  assure  those  gentlemen,  that  it  is  a  much 
easier  and  less  distressing  thing  to  draw  remonstrances  in  a  comfortable 
room  by  a  good  fireside,  than  to  occupy  a  cold,  bleak  hill,  and  sleep  under 
frost  and  snow,  without  clothes  or  blankets.  However,  although  they  seem 
to  have  little  feeling  for  the  naked  and  distressed  soldiers,  I  feel  superabun 
dantly  for  them,  and,  from  my  soul,  I  pity  those  miseries,  which  it  is  neither 
in  my  power  to  relieve  or  prevent." 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  30. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  A  considerable  number  of  our  men 
are  in  warm,  comfortable  huts ;  but  others  have  made  little 
progress  as  yet,  the  march  of  several  thousand  of  the  enemy 
from  Philadelphia  to  Derby  (where  they  remained  till  the 
28th)  having  obliged  a  considerable  body  of  our  men  to 


1777]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  113 

leave  their  work  to  watch  them.  The  work  is  also  retarded 
by  the  scarcity  of  tools.  On  Christmas  day  it  snowed,  and 
before  the  next  morning  it  was  four  inches  deep.  The 
weather  has  since  been  clear  and  cold." — Colonel  Pickering  to 
Mrs.  Pickering. 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER  31. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  I  sincerely  feel  for  the  unhappy  con 
dition  of  our  poor  fellows  in  the  hospitals,  and  wish  my 
power  to  relieve  them  were  equal  to  my  inclination.  It  is 
but  too  melancholy  a  truth,  that  our  hospital  stores  are  ex 
ceedingly  scanty  and  deficient  in  every  instance,  and  I  fear 
there  is  no  prospect  of  their  shortly  being  better.  Our 
difficulties  and  distresses  are  certainly  great,  and  such  as 
wound  the  feelings  of  humanity.  Our  sick  naked,  and  well 
naked,  our  unfortunate  men  in  captivity  naked !" — Wash 
ington  to  Governor  Livingston. 


THURSDAY,  JANUARY  1. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  The  enemy  returned  into  Philadel 
phia  on  Sunday  last,  having  made  a  considerable  hay  forage, 
which  appeared  to  be  their  only  intention.  As  they  kept 
themselves  in  close  order,  and  in  just  such  a  position  that 
no  attack  could  be  made  upon  them  to  advantage,  I  could 
do  no  more  than  extend  light  parties  along  their  front,  and 
keep  them  from  plundering  the  inhabitants  and  carrying 
off  cattle  and  horses;  which  had  the  desired  effect." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

SATURDAY,  JANUARY  3. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  Our  army  are  tenting  themselves ; 
they  are  almost  worn  out  with  fatigue,  and  greatly  distressed 
for  want  of  clothing,  particularly  the  article  of  shoes  and 
stockings.  The  present  mode  of  clothing  the  army  will 
always  leave  us  without  a  sufficient  supply.  The  change  in 
the  Commissary  department  has  been  a  very  distressing 
circumstance ;  the  army  has  been  fed  from  hand  to  mouth 
ever  since  Mr.  Trumbull  left  it.  Our  operations  have  been 
greatly  retarded  from  the  situation  of  the  Commissary  de 
partment.  The  Quartermaster-General's  department  also 
has  been  in  a  most  wretched  condition.  General  Mifflin, 
who  ought  to  have  been  at  the  head  of  the  business,  has 
never  been  with  the  army  since  it  came  into  the  State." — 
General  Greene  to  Jacob  Greene. 

Although  the  necessities  of  the  army  demanded  a  speedy  change  in  the 
quartermaster's  department,  it  was  not  until  the  2d  of  March  that  General 
Greene  was  chosen  to  be  the  head  of  it.  John  Cox,  a  well-known  merchant 
of  Philadelphia,  and  Charles  Pettit,  a  lawyer  of  New  Jersey,  secretary  to 

in 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.  H5 

Governor  Livingston  at  the  time,  were  appointed  assistants.  The  much- 
needed  change  in  the  commissary  department,  however,  did  not  take  place 
until  later.  On  the  9th  of  April  Congress  elected  Jeremiah  Wadsworth,  of 
Connecticut,  commissary-general,  and  five  days  later  adopted  a  plan  for  the 
management  of  the  department,  more  liberal  than  the  original  one,  which 
had  induced  the  first  commissary-general,  Colonel  Joseph  Trumbull,  to  quit 
the  department,  and  in  its  operation  had  nearly  destroyed  the  army.  The 
good  effect  growing  out  of  the  appointment  of  General  Greene  and  Colonel 
Wadsworth  is  particularly  mentioned  by  Washington  in  a  letter  to  the 
President  of  Congress,  dated  August  3,  1778. 

MONDAY,  JANUARY  5. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  The  letter  you  allude  to,  from  the 
Committee  of  Congress  and  Board  of  War,  came  to  hand 
on  Saturday  morning ;  but  it  does  not  mention  the  regula 
tions  adopted  for  removing  the  difficulties  and  failures  in 
the  commissary  line.  I  trust  they  will  be  vigorous,  or  the 
army  cannot  exist.  It  will  never  answer  to  procure  supplies 
of  clothing  or  provision  by  coercive  measures." — Washing 
ton  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  The  army  has  made  good  progress  in  hutting ;  but  the  want  of  tools  has 
retarded  the  work.  The  huts  are  very  warm  and  comfortable,  being  very 
good  log-houses,  pointed  with  clay,  and  the  roof  made  tight  with  the  same. 
The  weather  is  now  very  mild,  which  is  exceedingly  favorable  to  our  hut 
ting  ;  but  'tis  a  melancholy  consideration,  that  hundreds  of  our  men  are 
unfit  for  duty,  merely  from  the  want  of  clothes  and  shoes." — Colonel  Pick 
ering  to  Mrs,  Pickering,  January  5. 

TUESDAY,  JANUARY  13. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  "  Military  operations  seem  to  be  at  an 
end  for  the  winter.  Sir  William  Howe  is  fixed  in  Phila 
delphia,  and  we  have,  by  dint  of  labor  and  exposing  the 
troops  to  the  utmost  severity  of  the  season  rather  than  give 
up  the  country  to  the  ravages  of  the  Enemy  established  a 
post  at  this  place,  where  the  men  are  scarcely  now  covered 
in  log  huts,  having  hitherto  lived  in  tents  and  such  tempo 
rary  shelters  as  they  could  make  up.  The  want  of  clothing, 
added  to  the  rigor  of  the  season,  has  occasioned  them  to 
suffer  such  hardships  as  will  not  be  credited  but  by  those 


116  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1778 

who  have  been  spectators." — Washington  to  General  Robert 
Howe. 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  15. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  "  About  the  15th  of  January,  we  had 
our  huts  nearly  completed,  and  the  men  in  comfortable 
quarters." — Diary  of  Joseph  Clark. 

TUESDAY,  JANUARY  20. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  We  have  taken  a  post  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Schuylkill,  about  twenty  miles  from  the  city 
[Philadelphia],  and  with  much  pains  and  industry  have  got 
the  troops  tolerably  well  covered  in  huts." — Washington  to 
General  Arnold. 

"  January  20. — This  morning  about  daylight  a  party  of  the  enemy  came 
out  to  our  lines  and  had  a  curmige  with  our  guards.  Major  Durban  was 
wounded  in  the  wrist;  but  there  were  two  of  the  enemy,  light  horsemen, 
killed  and  one  more  wounded." — Journal  of  Ebenezer  Wild,  "  Proceedings 
Mass.  Hist.  Soc.,"  Second  Series,  vi.  106. 

SUNDAY,  JANUAEY  25. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  I  begin  to  be  very  apprehensive  that 
the  season  will  entirely  pass  away,  before  any  thing  material 
will  be  done  for  the  defence  of  Hudson's  River.  You  are 
well  acquainted  with  the  great  necessity  there  is  for  having 
the  works  there  finished,  as  soon  as  possible ;  and  I  most 
earnestly  desire,  that  the  strictest  attention  may  be  paid  to 
every  matter,  which  may  contribute  to  finishing  and  putting 
them  in  a  respectable  state  before  the  spring." — Washington 
to  General  Putnam. 

As  the  forts  and  other  works  in  the  Highlands  were  entirely  demolished 
by  the  British  in  October,  1777,  it  became  necessary  to  decide  whether  they 
should  be  restored,  or  new  places  selected  for  that  purpose.  About  the  be 
ginning  of  January  the  grounds  were  examined  by  General  Putnam,  Gov 
ernor  Clinton,  General  James  Clinton,  and  Radiere  the  French  engineer; 
they  all  united,  except  Kadiere,  in  the  opinion  that  West  Point  was  the 
most  eligible  place  to  be  fortified.  A  committee  appointed  by  the  Council 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  117 

and  Assembly  of  New  York,  after  three  days'  reconnoitring,  also  came  to 
the  same  conclusion.  It  was  accordingly  decided  on  the  13th  of  January, 
that  the  fortifications  should  be  erected  at  West  Point. 

TUESDAY,  JANUARY  27. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  I  am  much  obliged  by  your  polite 
request  of  my  opinion  and  advice  on  the  expedition  to 
Canada  and  other  occasions.  In  the  present  instance,  as  I 
neither  know  the  extent  of  the  objects  in  view,  nor  the 
means  to  be  employed  to  effect  them,  it  is  not  in  my  power 
to  pass  any  judgment  upon  the  subject.  I  can  only  sin 
cerely  wish,  that  success  may  attend  it,  both  as  it  may  ad 
vance  the  public  good,  and  on  account  of  the  personal 
honor  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  for  whom  I  have  a  very 
particular  esteem  and  regard." — Washington  to  General 
Gates. 

On  January  22  Congress  adopted  a  resolution  that  "an  irruption  be 
made  into  Canada,  and  that  the  Board  of  "War  be  authorized  to  take  every 
necessary  measure  for  the  execution  of  the  business,  under  such  general  offi 
cers  as  Congress  shall  appoint."  The  following  day  the  Marquis  de  La 
fayette,  Major-General  Conway,  and  Brigadier-General  Stark  were  elected 
to  conduct  the  irruption.  This  proposition,  which  emanated  from  the  Board 
of  "War,  of  which  General  Gates  was  president,  was  without  the  knowledge 
of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  the  appointment  of  Lafayette  being  made  for 
the  purpose  of  detaching  him  from  "Washington.  In  this,  however,  the 
conspirators  were  disappointed,  and,  finding  they  could  not  use  the  marquis, 
the  expedition  was  abandoned. 

WEDNESDAY,  JANUARY  28. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  The  disagreeable  picture,  I  have 
given  you,  of  the  wants  and  sufferings  of  the  army,  and  the 
discontents  reigning  among  the  officers,  is  a  just  represen 
tation  of  evils  equally  melancholy  and  important ;  and  un 
less  effectual  remedies  be  applied  without  loss  of  time,  the 
most  alarming  and  ruinous  consequences  are  to  be  appre 
hended." —  Washington  to  a  Committee  of  Congress. 

The  above  is  the  concluding  paragraph  of  a  lengthy  paper  (fifty  folio 
pages)  drawn  up  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  for  the  use  of  a  committee  of 
Congress,  then  in  camp  for  the  purpose  of  consulting  with  him,  in  order  to 


118  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1778 

mature  a  new  system  of  arrangements  for  the  administration  of  the  army. 
Committee:  Francis  Dana,  Joseph  Reed,  Nathaniel  Folsom,  John  Harvie, 
Charles  Carroll,  and  Gouverneur  Morris.  The  paper  or  memoir,  prepared 
from  information  communicated  by  the  general  officers,  exhibits  in  detail 
the  existing  state  of  the  army,  the  deficiencies  and  disorders,  with  their 
causes,  and  suggests  such  changes  and  improvements  as  were  thought  essen 
tial.  This  formed  the  basis  of  the  plan  adopted  by  the  committee,  who, 
after  remaining  in  camp  nearly  three  months,  returned  to  Congress.  The 
report,  containing  the  result  of  their  proceedings  and  the  new  scheme  of  the 
army,  was  approved. 

The  sessions  of  the  committee  were  held  at  "Moore  Hall,"  the  seat  of 
William  Moore,  Esq.  about  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  the  Valley  Forge 
head-quarters.  The  house,  still  standing,  is  the  country-seat  of  the  Hon. 
Samuel  W.  Pennypacker  of  Philadelphia. 

SATURDAY  FEBRUARY  7. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  "  The  present  situation  of  the  army  is 
the  most  melancholy  that  can  be  conceived.  Our  supplies 
of  provisions  of  the  flesh  kind  for  some  time  past  have  been 
very  deficient  and  irregular.  A  prospect  now  opens  of 
absolute  want,  such  as  will  make  it  impossible  to  keep  the 
army  much  longer  from  dissolution,  unless  the  most  vigor 
ous  and  effectual  measures  be  pursued  to  prevent  it.  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland  are  now  intirely  exhausted." 
—  Washington  to  Peter  Colt,  Purchasing  Commissary  in  Con 
necticut. 

SUNDAY,  FEBRUARY  15. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  "  Lord  Cornwallis  has  certainly  em 
barked  for  England,  but  with  what  view  is  not  so  easy  to 
determine.  He  was  eyewitness  a  few  days  before  his  de 
parture  to  a  scene,  not  a  little  disgraceful  to  the  pride  of 
British  valor,  in  their  manoeuvre  to  Chestnut  Hill,  and  pre 
cipitate  return,  after  boasting  their  intentions  of  driving 
us  beyond  the  mountains." — Washington  to  Richard  Henry 
Lee. 

Lord  Cornwallis  sailed  from  Philadelphia  for  England,  December  19,  on 
private  business,  but  returned  June  6,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Mon- 
mouth  Court-House,  June  28. 


1778]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  119 

MONDAY,  FEBRUARY  16. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  For  some  days  past,  there  has  been 
little  less  than  a  famine  in  the  camp.  A  part  of  the  army 
has  been  a  week  without  any  kind  of  flesh,  and  the  rest 
three  or  four  days.  Naked  and  starving  as  they  are,  we 
cannot  enough  admire  the  incomparable  patience  and 
fidelity  of  the  soldiery,  that  they  have  not  been  ere  this 
excited  by  their  suffering  to  a  general  mutiny  and  disper 
sion.'' —  Washington  to  Governor  Clinton. 

"The  situation  of  the  camp  is  such,  that  in  all  human  probability  the 
army  must  soon  dissolve.  Many  of  the  troops  are  destitute  of  meat,  and 
are  several  days  in  arrear.  The  horses  are  dying  for  want  of  forage.  The 
country  in  the  vicinity  of  the  camp  is  exhausted.  There  cannot  be  a  moral 
certainty  of  bettering  our  circumstances,  while  we  continue  here." — Gen 
eral  Varnum  to  General  Greene,  February  12. 

TUESDAY,  FEBRUARY  17. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  We  have  lately  been  in  a  most  alarm 
ing  situation  for  want  of  provisions.  The  soldiers  were 
scarcely  restrained  from  mutiny  by  the  eloquence  and  man 
agement  of  our  officers.  Those  who  are  employed  to  feed 
us,  either  for  want  of  knowledge  or  for  want  of  activity  or 
both,  never  furnish  supplies  adequate  to  our  wants." — John 
Laurens  to  Henry  Laurens. 

"  The  unfortunate  soldiers  were  in  want  of  everything ;  they  had  neither 
coats,  hats,  shirts,  nor  shoes  ;  their  feet  and  legs  froze  till  they  became  black, 
and  it  was  often  necessary  to  amputate  them.  From  want  of  money,  they 
could  neither  obtain  provisions  nor  any  means  of  transport ;  the  colonels 
were  often  reduced  to  two  rations,  and  sometimes  even  to  one.  The  army 
frequently  remained  whole  days  without  provisions,  and  the  patient  endur 
ance  of  both  soldiers  and  officers  was  a  miracle  which  each  moment  served  to 
renew.  But  the  sight  of  their  misery  prevented  new  engagements  :  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  levy  recruits ;  it  was  easy  to  desert  into  the  interior  of 
the  country." — Memoirs  of  Lafayette. 

WEDNESDAY,  FEBRUARY  18. 

At  Valley  Forge :  Issues  an  address  to  the  inhabitants  of 
New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  and  Vir- 


120  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1778 

ginia,  urging  them  to  prepare  cattle  for  the  use  of  the  army, 
during  the  months  of  May,  June,  and  July. 

FKIDAY,  FEBRUARY  27. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  "  Baron  Steuben  has  arrived  [Febru 
ary  23]  at  camp.  He  appears  to  be  much  of  a  gentleman, 
and  as  far  as  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  judging,  a  man 
of  military  knowledge,  and  acquainted  with  the  world." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

Peter  S.  Du  Ponceau,  who  came  to  America  with  Baron  Steuhen,  as  his 
secretary,  and  who  accompanied  him  to  Valley  Forge,  has  left  us  the  follow 
ing  interesting  recital  of  his  impressions  upon  first  seeing  the  Commander- 
in-Chief :  "  General  "Washington  received  the  Baron  with  great  cordiality, 
and  to  me  he  showed  much  condescending  attention.  I  cannot  describe  the 
impression  that  the  first  sight  of  that  great  man  made  upon  me.  1  could 
not  keep  my  eyes  from  that  imposing  countenance — grave,  yet  not  severe ; 
affable,  without  familiarity.  Its  predominant  expression  was  calm  dignity, 
through  which  you  could  trace  the  strong  feelings  of  the  patriot,  and  dis 
cern  the  father  as  well  as  the  commander  of  his  soldiers.  I  have  never  seen 
a  picture  that  represents  him  to  me  as  I  saw  him  at  Valley  Forge,  and  dur 
ing  the  campaigns  in  which  I  had  the  honor  to  follow  him.  Perhaps  that 
expression  was  beyond  the  skill  of  the  painter ;  but  while  I  live  it  will  re 
main  impressed  on  my  memory.  I  had  frequent  opportunities  of  seeing  him, 
as  it  was  my  duty  to  accompany  the  Baron  when  he  dined  with  him,  which 
was  sometimes  twice  or  thrice  in  the  same  week.  We  visited  him  also  in 
the  evening,  when  Mrs.  Washington  was  at  head-quarters.  We  were  in  a 
manner  domesticated  in  the  family." 

SUNDAY,  MARCH  1. 

At  Valley  Forge :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander  in 
Chief  again  takes  occasion  to  return  his  warmest  thanks  to 
the  virtuous  officers  and  soldiery  of  this  army,  for  that  per 
severing  fidelity  and  zeal  which  they  have  uniformly  mani 
fested  in  all  their  conduct.  Their  fortitude,  not  only  under 
the  common  hardships  incident  to  a  military  life,  but  also 
under  the  additional  sufferings  to  which  the  peculiar  situa 
tion  of  these  States  had  exposed  them,  clearly  proves  them 
worthy  of  the  enviable  privilege  of  contending  for  the  rights 
of  human  nature,  the  freedom  and  independence  of  their 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  121 

country.  The  recent  instance  of  uncomplaining  patience 
during  the  scarcity  of  provisions  in  Camp,  is  a  fresh  proof 
that  they  possess  in  an  eminent  degree  the  spirit  of  soldiers 
and  the  magnanimity  of  patriots." 

THURSDAY,  MARCH  5. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "I  learn  from  undoubted  authority, 
that  General  Clinton  quarters  in  Captain  Kennedy's  house 
in  the  city  of  New  York  [No.  1  Broadway],  which  you 
know  is  near  Fort  George,  and,  by  reason  of  the  late  fire, 
stands  in  a  manner  alone.  What  guards  may  be  at  or  near 
his  quarters,  I  cannot  with  precision  say;  and  therefore 
shall  not  add  anything  on  this  score,  lest  it  should  prove  a 
misinformation.  But  I  think  it  one  of  the  most  practicable 
(and  surely  it  will  be  among  the  most  desirable  and  honor 
able),  things  imaginable  to  take  him  prisoner." —  Washington 
to  General  Parsons  at  West  Point. 

In  a  second  letter  on  the  subject  (March  8),  enclosing  a  copy  of  that  of 
the  5th,  Washington  suggested  that  the  "  officers  and  soldiers  employed  in 
the  enterprise  be  dressed  in  red,  and  much  in  the  taste  of  the  British  soldiery." 
General  Parsons  in  reply,  under  date  of  March  16,  wrote  :  "  The  Contents 
of  your  Excellency's  Letter  of  ye  8th  Shall  be  particularly  attended  to  if  no 
other  Difficulties  appear  than  at  present  offer  themselves  to  view,  perhaps  an 
Attempt  may  be  made  within  Eight  Days,  much  sooner  it  cannot  be  for 
Eeasons  I  will  hereafter  give,  the  Letter  of  the  5th  refer'd  to  in  that  of  the 
8th  not  having  come  to  hand  gives  me  some  concern,  as  that  Falling  into  the 
Enemy's  Hands  may  Wholly  defeat  Us ;  I  shall  be  unwilling  to  make  the 
Attempt  unless  it  should  arrive  safe." 

The  letter  of  the  5th  was  afterwards  received  (March  18),  but  no  attempt 
seems  to  have  been  made  to  carry  out  the  design. 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  7. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  "  I  came  to  this  place,  some  time  about 
the  first  of  February  [the  10th],  where  I  found  the  General 
very  well.  I  left  my  children  at  our  house.  .  .  The  General 
is  in  camp  in  what  is  called  the  great  valley  on  the  Banks 
of  the  Schuylkill.  Officers  and  men  are  chiefly  in  Hutts, 
which  they  say  is  tolerably  comfortable;  the  army  are  as 


122  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1778 

healthy  as  can  well  be  expected  in  general.  The  General's 
apartment  is  very  small ;  he  has  had  a  log  cabin  built  to 
dine  in,  which  has  made  our  quarter  much  more  tolerable 
than  they  were  at  first." — Mrs.  Washington  to  Mrs.  Mercy 
Warren. 

FRIDAY,  MAKCH  20. 

L.  At  Valley  Forge :  "  By  death  and  desertion  we  have  lost 
a  good  many  men  since  we  came  to  this  ground,  and  have 
encountered  every  species  of  hardship,  that  cold,  wet,  and 
hunger,  and  want  of  clothes,  were  capable  of  producing; 
notwithstanding,  and  contrary  to  my  expectations,  we  have 
been  able  to  keep  the  soldiers  from  mutiny  or  dispersion ; 
although,  in  the  single  article  of  provisions,  they  have  en 
countered  enough  to  have  occasioned  one  or  other  of  these 
in  most  other  armies.  They  have  been  (two  or  three  times) 
days  together  without  provisions ;  and  once,  six  days  without 
any  of  the  meat  kind." —  Washington  to  General  John  Cad- 
walader. 

"  Sunday  next  being  the  time  on  which  the  Quakers  hold  one  of  their 
general  meetings,  a  number  of  that  society  will  probably  be  attempting  to 
go  into  Philadelphia.  This  is  an  intercourse  that  we  should  by  all  means 
endeavor  to  interrupt,  as  the  plans  settled  at  these  meetings  are  of  the  most 
pernicious  tendency.  I  would  therefore  have  you  dispose  of  your  parties  in 
such  a  manner  as  will  most  probably  fall  in  with  these  people." — Washing 
ton  to  General  Lacey,  March  20. 

TUESDAY,  MARCH  24. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  "  As  it  is  not  improper  for  Congress  to 
have  some  idea  of  the  present  temper  of  the  army,  it  may 
not  be  amiss  to  remark  in  this  place,  that,  since  the  month 
of  August  last,  between  two  and  three  hundred  officers  have 
resigned  their  commissions,  and  many  others  were  with 
difficulty  dissuaded  from  it.  In  the  Virginia  line  only,  not 
less  than  six  colonels,  as  good  as  any  in  the  service,  have 
left  it  lately ;  and  more,  I  am  told,  are  in  the  humor  to  do 
so." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  123 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  28. 

At  Valley  Forge :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Baron  Steuben, 
a  Lieutenant  General  in  foreign  service  and  a  gentleman  of 
great  military  experience,  having  obligingly  undertaken  to 
exercise  the  office  of  Inspector  General  in  the  Army,  the 
Commander-in-Chief,  till  the  pleasure  of  Congress  be  known, 
desires  he  may  be  respected  and  obeyed  as  such,  and  hopes 
and  expects  that  all  officers,  of  whatsoever  rank,  will  aftbrd 
him  every  aid  in  their  power  in  the  execution  of  his  office." 

Frederick  "William  Augustus,  Baron  von  Steuben,  a  Prussian  by  birth, 
succeeded  General  Conway  in  the  office  of  inspector-general  of  the  Amer 
ican  army,  his  real  appointment  dating  May  5,  five  weeks  later  than  the 
above-quoted  order.  His  valuable  services  in  improving  the  discipline  ot 
the  army  are  too  well  known  to  need  any  comment.  The  following  de 
scription  of  the  condition  of  the  army  at  Valley  Forge,  written  by  Steuben, 
shortly  after  his  arrival  in  camp,  is  taken  from  Kapp's  Life  of  Steuben : 
"  The  arms  at  Valley  Forge  were  in  a  horrible  condition,  covered  with  rust, 
half  of  them  without  bayonets,  many  from  which  a  single  shot  could  not  be 
fired.  The  pouches  were  quite  as  bad  as  the  arms.  A  great  many  of  the 
men  had  tin  boxes  instead  of  pouches,  others  had  cow-horns  ;  and  muskets, 
carbines,  fowling-pieces,  and  rifles  were  to  be  seen  in  the  same  company. 
The  description  of  the  dress  is  most  easily  given.  The  men  were  literally 
naked,  some  of  them  in  the  fullest  extent  of  the  word.  The  officers  who 
had  coats,  had  them  of  every  color  and  make.  I  saw  officers,  at  a  grand 
parade  at  Valley  Forge,  mounting  guard  in  a  sort  of  dressing-gown,  made 
of  an  old  blanket  or  woollen  bed-cover.  "With  regard  to  their  military  dis 
cipline,  I  may  safely  say  no  such  thing  existed." 

WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  1. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  I  must  not  omit  to  inform  you  that 
Baron  Steuben  is  making  a  sensible  progress  with  our 
soldiers.  The  officers  seem  to  have  a  high  opinion  of  him, 
and  discover  a  docility  from  which  we  may  augur  the  most 
happy  effects.  It  would  enchant  you  to  see  the  enlivened 
scene  of  our  Campus  Martius.  If  Mr.  Howe  opens  the 
campaign  with  his  usual  deliberation,  and  our  recruits  or 
draughts  corne  in  tolerably  well,  we  shall  be  infinitely  better 
prepared  to  meet  him,  than  ever  we  have  been." — John 
Laurens  to  Henry  Laurens. 


124  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1778 

SATURDAY,  APKIL  4. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  I  am  happy  to  inform  Congress,  that 
General  Lee  will  be  out  on  parole  to-morrow  in  place  of 
General  Prescott ;  and  I  have  every  reason  to  expect,  if  the 
negotiation  can  be  continued  upon  admissable  terms,  that 
his  exchange  will  immediately  follow  the  releasement  of 
Colonel  Campbell  and  the  Hessian  field-officers." — Washing 
ton  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

General  Lee  was  exchanged,  April  21,  for  Major-General  Kichard  Prescott 
of  the  British  army,  who  had  been  made  prisoner  on  the  night  of  July  10, 
1777,  at  his  quarters  near  Newport,  R.I.,  by  "William  Barton,  lieutenant- 
colonel  Ehode  Island  militia.  At  the  time  of  his  exchange  (which  was 
finally  arranged  at  Germantown),  Lee  was  at  Yorktown  on  parole,  and  on 
the  day  fixed  for  his  reporting  to  head-quarters,  the  greatest  preparations 
were  made  for  his  reception  :  "  All  the  principal  Officers  of  the  Army  were 
drawn  up  in  two  lines,  advanced  of  the  Camp  about  2  miles  towards  the 
Enemy.  Then  the  Troops  with  the  inferior  officers  formed  a  line  quite  to 
head  Quarters — all  the  Music  of  the  Army  attended.  The  General  with  a 
great  number  of  principal  Officers  and  their  Suites,  rode  about  four  miles  on 
the  road  towards  Philadelphia,  and  waited  till  Gen1  Lee  appeared.  General 
Washington  dismounted  &  reca  Gen1  Lee  as  if  he  had  been  his  Brother.  He 
passed  thro  the  Lines  of  Officers  &  the  Army,  who  all  paid  him  the  highest 
military  Honors  to  Head  Quarters,  where  Mrs  Washington  was,  and  here  he 
was  entertained  with  an  elegant  Dinner,  and  the  music  playing  the  whole 
Time.  A  Eoom  was  assigned  him  back  of  M™  Washingtons  sitting-room, 
and  all  his  baggage  was  stowed  in  it.  .  .  Gen1  Washington  gave  him  the 
Command  of  the  right  wing  of  the  Army,  but  before  he  took  Charge  of  it, 
he  requested  leave  to  go  to  Congress  at  York  Town,  which  was  readily 
granted."* — MS.  of  Elias  Boudinot. 

MONDAY,  APRIL  6. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  Mrs.  Jones  Mrs.  Pleasants  and  two 
other  Ladies  connected  with  the  Quaker's  confined  at  Win 
chester  in  Virginia  waited  upon  me  this  day  for  permission 
to  pass  to  York  Town  [Pennsylvania]  to  endeavour  to  ob 
tain  the  release  of  their  Friends." — Washington  to  Thomas 
Wharton,  President  of  Pennsylvania. 

*  General  Lee  rejoined  the  army  at  Valley  Forge,  May  20.  His  oath 
of  allegiance  to  the  United  States,  preserved  in  the  Department  of  State, 
Washington,  D.C.,  is  dated  June  9. 


1778]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  125 

One  of  these  ladies,  Mrs.  Henry  Drinker,  has  left  us,  in  her  journal,  a 
record  of  this  visit  to  Valley  Forge :  "  April  6, 1778. — Arrived  at  Hd  Quarters, 
at  about  J  past  one.  We  requested  an  audience  with  the  General,  and  sat 
with  his  wife,  (a  sociable,  pretty  kind  of  woman),  until  he  came  in.  A 
number  of  officers  were  there  who  were  very  complaisant,  Tench  Tilghman 
among  ye  rest.  It  was  not  long  before  G.  Washington  came,  and  discoursed 
with  us  freely,  but  not  so  long  as  we  could  have  wished,  as  dinner  was  served, 
to  which  he  invited  us.  There  were  15  Officers,  besides  ye  G1  and  his  wife, 
Gen.  Greene,  and  Gen.  Lee.  We  had  an  elegant  dinner,  which  was  soon 
over,  when  we  went  out  with  ye  Genu  wife,  up  to  her  Chamber — and  saw 
no  more  of  him.  He  told  us,  he  could  do  nothing  in  our  business  further 
than  granting  us  a  Pass  to  Lancaster,  which  he  did,  and  gave  a  letter  to  I11 
Morris  for  T.  Wharton." — Journal  of  Elizabeth  Drinker,  p.  93. 

THURSDAY,  APRIL  16. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  On  the  morning  of  the  16th  [of 
April],  we  reached  "Washington's  camp  at  Valley  Forge, 
situated  on  the  heights  of  the  Schuylkill.  Here  I  met 
friends  and  relatives  from  New-England.  The  army  con 
tinues  yet  in  winter-quarters,  the  fourth  campaign  being 
at  hand.  God  grant  that  it  may  be  as  fortunate  as  the  last ! 
I  spent  a  day  in  the  camp,  attending  the  reviews  and  ex 
amining  the  condition  and  situation  of  the  army.  My  heart 
bled  at  the  recital  of  their  sufferings  and  privations  the  past 
winter.  Exalted  virtue  and  patriotism,  and  the  strong  at 
tachment  of  the  officers  to  General  Washington,  only  held 
the  army  together.  The  poor  soldiers  were  half  naked,  and 
had  been  half  starved,  having  been  compelled,  for  weeks, 
to  subsist  on  simple  flour  alone,  and  this  too  in  a  land 
almost  literally  flowing  with  milk  and  honey.  Oh,  these 
destestable  tories !  I  saw  Washington  on  horseback  at 
tended  by  his  aids,  passing  through  the  camp." — Memoirs 
of  Elkanah  Watson,  p.  62. 

MONDAY,  APRIL  20. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  There  seem  to  be  but  three  general 
plans  of  operation,  which  may  be  premeditated  for  the  next 
campaign ;  one,  the  attempting  to  recover  Philadelphia  and 
destroy  the  enemy's  army  there  ;  another,  the  endeavoring 


126  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1778 

to  transfer  the  war  to  the  northward  by  an  enterprise 
against  New  York ;  and  a  third,  the  remaining  quiet  in  a 
secure,  fortified  camp,  disciplining  and  arranging  the  army 
till  the  enemy  begin  their  operations,  and  then  to  govern 
ourselves  accordingly — which  of  these  three  plans  shall  we 
adopt?" — Washington  to  General  Greene. 

The  letter  from  which  the  above  is  an  extract  was  sent  as  a  circular  to  all 
the  general  officers  in  camp,  each  of  whom  returned  a  written  reply.  They 
differed  widely  in  opinion.  Wayne,  Paterson,  and  Maxwell  recommended 
an  attack  on  Philadelphia.  Knox,  Poor,  Varnum,  and  Muhlenberg  were  in 
favor  of  an  attack  on  New  York.  Greene  thought  it  best  for  the  main  body 
of  the  army  to  remain  at  Valley  Forge,  but  that  an  attack  should  be  made 
on  New  York  by  a  detachment  of  four  thousand  regulars,  joined  to  the 
eastern  militia ;  that  General  "Washington  should  command  this  expedition 
in  person,  and  leave  General  Lee  to  command  in  Pennsylvania.  Lord 
Stirling  was  for  operating  against  both  New  York  and  Philadelphia.  La 
fayette,  Steuben,  and  Duportail  had  doubts  as  to  the  expediency  of  any 
attack  upon  the  enemy,  till  the  army  should  be  strengthened  and  put  in  a 
better  condition ;  and  they  were  inclined  to  adopt  the  third  plan  suggested 
by  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

TUESDAY,  APRIL  21. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  The  enemy  are  beginning  to  play  a 
game  more  dangerous,  than  their  efforts  by  arms  (though 
these  will  not  be  remitted  in  the  smallest  degree),  which 
threatens  a  fatal  blow  to  the  independence  of  America,  and 
of  course  to  her  liberties.  They  are  endeavoring  to  ensnare 
the  people  by  specious  allurements  of  peace.  .  .  .  Nothing 
short  of  independence,  it  appears  to  me,  can  possibly  do. 
A  peace  on  other  terms  would,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the  ex 
pression,  be  a  peace  of  war.  The  injuries  we  have  received 
from  the  British  were  so  unprovoked,  and  have  been  so 
great  and  so  many,  that  they  can  never  be  forgotten." — 
Washington  to  John  Banister. 

The  above  remarks  were  induced  by  the  perusal  of  Lord  North's  Concili 
atory  Bills,  as  they  were  called,  copies  of  which  had  reached  head-quarters 
on  April  17.  The  Earl  of  Carlisle,  George  Johnstone,  formerly  governor 
of  West  Florida,  and  William  Eden,  the  three  commissioners  appointed 
under  their  provisions,  accompanied  by  Adam  Ferguson,  Professor  of  Moral 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.  127 

Philosophy  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  as  secretary,  arrived  in  the 
Delaware  River  on  the  4th  of  June.  After  the  commissioners  reached 
Philadelphia,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  wrote  to  Washington,  requesting  a  pass 
port  for  Dr.  Ferguson  to  proceed  to  Congress  at  York,  Pennsylvania,  with 
despatches.  The  request  was  declined  (Sparks,  v.  397),  and  the  letter  con 
taining  it  was  forwarded  to  Congress.  Not  waiting  for  the  result,  the  com 
missioners  forwarded  their  papers  to  Congress,  which  were  received  on  the 
13th  of  June.  Congress  ordered  a  reply  to  be  returned  to  the  commissioners, 
in  which,  after  expressing  a  readiness  to  make  peace  whenever  the  King  of 
Great  Britain  should  manifest  a  sincere  disposition  for  that  purpose,  the 
President,  Henry  Laurens,  added,  "  The  only  solid  proof  of  this  disposition 
will  be,  an  explicit  acknowledgment  of  the  independence  of  these  States,  or 
the  withdrawing  of  his  fleets  and  armies."  The  commissioners  remained  in 
the  country  until  October,  and  made  various  attempts,  by  art  and  by  official 
intercourse,  to  gain  their  object.  The  reply  of  Joseph  Reed  to  an  offer  of 
money  and  position,  to  induce  him  to  exert  his  influence  in  behalf  of  the 
commissioners,  is  well  known :  "  I  am  not  worth  purchasing,  but,  such  as  I 
am,  the  King  of  Great  Britain  is  not  rich  enough  to  do  it." 

WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  22. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  By  order  of  Congress,  observed  as  a 
day  of  fasting,  humiliation,  and  prayer. 

FRIDAY,  MAY  1. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  With  infinite  pleasure  I  beg  leave  to 
congratulate  Congress  on  the  very  important  and  interesting 
advices  brought  by  the  frigate  Sensible.  General  McDougall 
and  Mr.  Deane  were  so  obliging  as  to  transmit  me  the  out 
lines  of  the  good  tidings." — Washington  to  the  President  of 
Congress. 

Simeon  Deane,  brother  to  Silas  Deane,  one  of  the  American  Commission 
ers  in  Paris,  was  the  bearer  of  the  despatches  containing  the  treaties  between 
France  and  the  United  States.  He  came  over  in  the  French  frigate  Sensi 
ble,  of  thirty-six  guns,  which  was  sent  by  the  King  for  the  express  purpose, 
and  arrived  at  Falmouth  (now  Portland)  in  Casco  Bay,  on  the  13th  of  April, 
after  a  passage  of  thirty-five  days.  He  reached  Yorktown  on  Saturday,  the 
2d  of  May.  Congress  had  adjourned  till  Monday,  but  the  members  were 
immediately  summoned  to  assemble  by  the  president,  and  the  despatches 
were  read. 

SATURDAY,  MAY  2. 

At  Valley  Forge  :    Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander  in 


128  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1778 

Chief  directs  that  Divine  Service  be  performed  every  Sun 
day  at  11  o'clock,  in  each  Brigade  which  has  a  Chaplain. 
Those  Brigades  which  have  none  will  attend  the  places  of 
worship  nearest  to  them." 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  6. 

At  Valley  Forge :  Issues  an  order  for  a  grand  military 
fete  and  jubilee  by  the  army,  to  celebrate  the  conclusion 
of  the  treaty  of  alliance  between  France  and  the  United 
States. 

The  treaties  of  commerce  and  alliance  between  France  and  the  United 
States  were  signed  on  the  6th  of  February.  The  first  meeting  between  the 
French  Minister  and  the  American  Commissioners,  for  the  purpose  of  nego 
tiating  a  treaty,  was  held  at  Versailles  on  the  12th  of  December.  It  was 
stated,  in  an  article  of  the  treaty  of  alliance,  to  be  its  direct  end,  "to  main 
tain  effectually  the  liberty,  sovereignty,  and  independence,  absolute  and 
unlimited,  of  the  United  States,  as  well  in  matters  of  government  as  com 
merce." 

THUKSDAY,  MAY  7. 

At  Valley  Forge :  In  pursuance  of  the  order  of  the  6th,  a 
day  of  general  rejoicing  in  the  army. 

At  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Washington,  Lord  Stirling,  Greene, 
and  other  general  officers,  with  their  ladies  and  suites,  attended  the  relig 
ious  services  of  the  Jersey  brigade.  At  half-past  eleven  the  Commander-in- 
Chief,  accompanied  by  the  general  officers,  reviewed  the  whole  army  at  their 
respective  posts,  after  which  he  dined  in  public  with  all  the  officers  of  his 
army,  attended  by  a  band  of  music.  "  The  entertainment  was  concluded 
•with  a  number  of  patriotic  toasts,  attended  with  huzzas.  When  the  General 
took  his  leave,  there  was  a  universal  clap,  with  loud  huzzas,  which  continued 
till  he  had  proceeded  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  during  which  time  there  were  a 
thousand  hats  tossed  in  the  air.  His  Excellency  turned  round  with  his  reti 
nue,  and  huzzaed  several  times." 

FKIDAY,  MAY  8. 

At  Valley  Forge :  A  council  of  war,  in  which  it  was 
determined  "  that  the  line  of  conduct  most  consistent  with 
sound  policy,  and  best  suited  to  promote  the  interests  and 
safety  of  the  United  States,  was  to  remain  on  the  defensive 
and  wait  events,  and  not  attempt  any  offensive  operations 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  129 

against  the  enemy,  till  circumstances  should  afford  a  fairer 
opportunity  for  striking  a  successful  blow." 

At  this  council,  which  was  convened  by  order  of  Congress,  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  stated  that  the  Continental  force  amounted  to  fifteen  thousand,  besides 
horse  and  artillery.  Of  these  eleven  thousand  eight  hundred  were  at  Valley 
Forge,  fourteen  hundred  at  Wilmington,  and  eighteen  hundred  on  the  North 
River.  When  all  the  reinforcements  were  brought  in  that  it  was  reasonable 
to  anticipate,  the  whole  army  fit  for  action  could  not  be  expected  to  amount 
to  mort)  than  twenty  thousand. 

MONDAY,  MAY  11. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  General  officers 
are  requested  to  meet  at  Head  Quarters  at  11  o'clock  to 
morrow,  A.M.  that  they  may  take  the  oath  appointed  by 
Congress  in  a  Resolution  of  the  3d  of  February  last,  which 
was  published  in  the  order  of  the  7th  inst." 

11  Resolved,  That  every  officer  who  holds  or  shall  hereafter  hold  a  commis 
sion  or  office  from  Congress  shall  take  and  subscribe  the  following  oath  or 
affirmation :  I  do  acknowledge  the  United  States  of  America  to  be  free,  in 
dependent  and  sovereign  States,  and  declare  that  the  people  thereof  owe  no 
allegiance  or  obedience  to  George  the  third,  King  of  Great  Britain ;  and  I 
renounce,  refuse  and  abjure  any  allegiance  or  obedience  to  him:  and  I  do 
swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  to  the  utmost  of  my  power  support,  maintain 
and  defend  the  said  United  States  against  the  said  King  George  the  third, 
and  his  heirs  and  successors,  and  his  and  their  abettors,  assistants  and  adhe 
rents,  and  will  serve  the  said  United  States  in  the  office  which  I  now  hold, 
with  fidelity,  according  to  the  best  of  my  skill  and  understanding.  So  help 
me  God." — Journal  of  Congress,  February  3,  1778. 

THURSDAY,  MAY  14. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  May  14. — This  afternoon  at  4  o'clock 
we  turned  out  to  exercise.  Genl  Glover's,  Poor's,  and  Lar- 
nerd's  Brigades  formed  a  Division,  and  went  through  a 
number  of  manoeuvres  before  his  Excellency  Genl  Wash 
ington  and  members  of  the  grand  Congress." — Journal  of 
JEbenezer  Wild. 

MONDAY,  MAY  18. 

At  Valley  Forge:  "A  valuable  detachment  under  the 
command  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  marched  this  morn- 

10 


130  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON,          [1778 

ing,  which  is  intended  to  move  between  the  Delaware  and 
the  Schuylkill,  for  restraining  the  enemy's  parties  and  pro 
curing  intelligence  and  to  act  as  circumstances  may  require." 
—  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

SUNDAY,  MAY  24. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  On  the  night  of  the  19th  the  enemy 
moved  out  in  force  against  the  detachment  under  the  Mar 
quis  de  Lafayette,  mentioned  in  my  letter  of  the  18th,  which 
made  a  timely  and  handsome  retreat  in  great  order  over  the 
Schuylkill  at  Matson's  Ford." —  Washington  to  the  President 
of  Congress. 

A  graphic  description  of  the  affair  at  Barren  Hill,  about  twelve  miles 
from  Valley  Forge,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Schuylkill,  will  be  found  in 
Sparks,  v.  545. 

MONDAY,  MAY  25. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  If  any  thing  of  greater  moment  had 
occurred,  than  declaring  that  every  word  contained  in  the 
pamphlet,  which  you  were  obliging  enough  to  send  me,  was 
spurious,  I  should  not  have  suffered  your  favor  of  the  6th 
instant  to  remain  so  long  unacknowledged.  These  letters 
are  written  with  a  great  deal  of  art.  The  intermixture  of 
so  many  family  circumstances  (which,  by  the  by,  want  foun 
dation  in  truth)  gives  an  air  of  plausability,  which  renders 
the  villainy  greater ;  as  the  whole  is  a  contrivance  to  answer 
the  most  diabolical  purposes.  Who  the  author  of  them  is, 
I  know  not." — Washington  to  Richard  Henry  Lee. 

In  allusion  to  the  "forged"  letters,  published  at  London  in  June,  1777, 
under  the  title  "  Letters  from  General  Washington,  to  several  of  his  Friends 
in  the  year  1776.  In  which  are  set  forth  a  fairer  and  fuller  view  of  Ameri 
can  Politics,  than  ever  yet  transpired,  or  the  Public  could  be  made  acquainted 
with  through  any  other  Channel."  The  letters,  seven  in  number,  were 
reprinted  at  New  York  in  1778,  and  at  Philadelphia  in  1795,  and  again  at 
New  York,  with  other  letters,  in  1796,  with  the  title  "  Epistles,  domestic, 
confidential  and  official  from  General  Washington."  The  appearance  of 
the  latter  publication  called  out  a  letter  from  Washington  to  Timothy  Pick 
ering  (March  3,  1797),  in  which  he  declared  them  to  be  base  forgeries,  and 


1778]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  131 

said  that  he  had  never  seen  or  heard  of  them  until  they  appeared  in  print. 
An  interesting  note  concerning  these  letters,  and  ascribing  the  authorship 
to  "John  Randolph  the  last  royal  attorney  general  of  Virginia,  and  long 
the  ablest  lawyer  in  the  colony,  who  went  to  England  in  1775,"  will  he 
found  in  Ford's  "  Writings  of  George  Washington,"  iv.  132. 

FRIDAY,  MAY  29. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "  That  the  enemy  mean  to  evacuate 
Philadelphia  is  almost  reduced  to  a  certainty.  It  is  as  much 
so,  as  an  event  can  be,  that  is  contingent.  Their  baggage 
and  stores  are  nearly  if  not  all  embarked ;  and,  from  our 
intelligence,  there  is  reason  to  conclude,  that  many  days 
will  not  elapse  before  they  abandon  it." —  Washington  to  Gov 
ernor  Clinton. 

FRIDAY,  JUNE  5. 

At  Valley  Forge  :  "  What  the  real  designs  of  the  enemy 
are,  remains  yet  to  be  discovered.  Appearances  and  a 
thousand  circumstances  induce  a  belief  that  they  intend  to 
pass  through  the  Jerseys  to  New  York." — Washington  to 
General  Dickinson. 

"  The  enemy  had  resolved  to  evacuate  Philadelphia  as  early  as  the  23d  of 
May,  and  perhaps  before.  On  that  day  General  Clinton  [who  took  com 
mand  on  the  llth  of  May]  wrote  to  Lord  George  Germain  that  he  had 
determined  to  leave  Philadelphia  and  proceed  to  New  York  with  the  whole 
army,  as  soon  as  it  could  be  done.  Orders  for  evacuating  Philadelphia  had 
been  sent  by  the  ministry,  dated  March  21,  immediately  after  the  French 
government  had  publicly  declared,  that  a  treaty  had  been  made  with  the 
United  States.  Gordon  says  (History,  vol.  iii.  p.  130)  that  the  order  for 
evacuation  was  brought  out  by  the  commissioners,  and  that  it  was  a  secret 
even  to  them.  But  the  fact  is,  it  was  contained  in  the  instructions  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  as  the  successor  of  Sir  William  Howe,  and  was  received  by 
him  several  days  before  the  arrival  of  the  commissioners." — Sparks,  v.  395. 

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  17. 

At  Valley  Forge:  A  council  of  war,  in  which  among 
other  questions  proposed  was, "  If  the  enemy  march  through 
Jersey,  will  it  be  prudent  to  attack  them  on  the  way,  or 
more  eligible  to  proceed  to  the  North  River  in  the  most 
direct  and  convenient  manner,  to  secure  the  important  com 


132  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1778 

munication  between  the  Eastern  and  Southern  States?" 
Nearly  all  the  officers  were  opposed  to  an  attack,  on  account 
of  the  inequality  of  force,  but  some  thought  it  should  de 
pend  on  circumstances.  "Washington  was  desirous  of  attack 
ing  the  enemy,  in  which  he  was  supported  by  Greene, 
Lafayette,  Wayne,  and  Cadwalader. 

THUKSDAT,  JUNE  18. 

At  Valley  Forge :  "Head- Quarters,  Half  after  eleven  A.M., 
18  June.  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  Congress,  that  I 
was  this  minute  advised  by  Mr.  Roberts  that  the  enemy 
evacuated  the  city  early  this  morning.  ...  I  have  put  six 
brigades  in  motion ;  and  the  rest  of  the  army  are  preparing 
to  follow  with  all  possible  despatch.  "We  shall  proceed 
towards  Jersey,  and  govern  ourselves  according  to  circum 
stances." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  June  18. — This  day  we  learned  the  enemy  had  left  Philadelphia.  About 
12  o'clock  Genl  Poor's,  Varnons  [Varnum's],  &  Huntingtou's  Brigades 
[under  General  Lee]  marched  off.  At  three  o'clk  the  2d  Pennsylvania  & 
another  Southern  Brigade  marched  off;  and  we  had  orders  with  the  rest 
of  the  whole  army  to  march  to-morrow  morning  at  5  o'clk. '' — Journal  of 
Ebenezer  Wild. 

FRIDAY,  JUNE  19. 

Leaves  Valley  Forge :  "  The  enemy  evacuated  Philadel 
phia,  on  the  18th  instant.  At  ten  [?]  o'clock  that  day  I  got 
intelligence  of  it,  and  by  two  o'clock,  or  soon  after,  had  six 
brigades  on  their  march  for  the  Jerseys,  and  followed  with 
the  whole  army  next  morning." —  Washington  to  John  Augus 
tine  Washington,  July  4,  1778. 

"  June  19. — At  5  o'clk  the  general  was  beat  before  the  Brigade,  &  we 
struck  our  tents  &  loaded  our  baggage.  Between  9  &  10  o'clk  we  marched  off, 
and  making  several  short  stops  on  the  road  to  rest  ourselves  ;  we  pitched  our 
tents  in  a  field.  We  had  orders  to  cook  all  our  provision,  &  be  ready  to 
march  at  4  o'clk  tomorrow  morning.  "We  have  marched  9  miles  this  day. 
This  place  is  called  Norringtown." — Journal  of  Ebenezer  Wild. 

SATURDAY,  JUNE  20. 

At  Doylestown,  Pennsylvania:    "I  am  now  with  the 


1778]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  133 

main  body  of  the  army  within  ten  miles  of  Coryell's  Ferry. 
General  Lee  is  advanced  with  six  brigades,  and  will  cross 
[the  Delaware]  to-night  or  to-morrow  morning.  ...  I 
shall  enter  the  Jerseys  to-morrow." — Washington  to  General 
Gates. 

The  Doylestown  of  1778  was  a  cross-roads  hamlet,  about  ten  miles  from 
Coryell's  Ferry  on  the  Delaware  (now  New  Hope),  consisting  of  a  tavern 
kept  by  William  Doyle,  and  several  small  houses.  Washington  pitched  his 
tent  near  the  dwelling  of  Jonathan  Fell,  late  John  G.  Mann's  farm-house, 
just  east  of  the  present  borough.  The  Doylestown  of  1892,  the  county-seat 
of  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania,  is  a  town  of  three  thousand  inhabitants. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  21. 

At  Doylestown :  "  The  whole  army  is  advancing  to  the 
Delaware.  We  have  been  much  impeded  by  rain.  The 
troops  with  General  Lee  crossed  the  river  last  night." — 
Washington  to  General  Arnold. 

MONDAY,  JUNE  22. 

At  Coryell's  Ferry  (now  Lambertville),  New  Jersey  :  "  I 
have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  I  am  now  in  Jersey,  and 
that  the  troops  are  passing  the  river  at  Coryell's,  and  are 
mostly  over.  .  .  .  We  have  been  a  good  deal  impeded  in 
our  march  by  rainy  weather.  As  soon  as  we  have  cleaned 
the  arms,  and  can  get  matters  in  train,  we  propose  moving 
towards  Princeton." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  June  22d,  the  whole  army  encamped  near  the  new  meeting  house ; 
having  got  word  that  the  enemy  were  moving  towards  Trenton,  the  army 
marched  next  morning  towards  them,  and  encamped  at  Hopewell,  the 
enemy  having  altered  their  route  towards  Monmouth." — Diary  of  Joseph 
Clark. 

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  24. 

At  Hopewell,  New  Jersey :  A  council  of  war,  after  which, 
"Washington  decided  to  attack  the  enemy. 

"Hopewell  Township,  New  Jersey,  4  o'clock  A.M.,  25th  June,  1778. — The 
enemy  are  now  at  Allen  Town,  about  ten  miles  southeast  of  Princeton,  and 
we  are  about  six  miles  north  [of]  Princeton,  so  that  the  two  armies  are  now 


134  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1778 

about  nineteen  or  twenty  miles  apart.  We  are  now  on  the  march  towards 
them,  and  their  movements  this  day  will  determine  whether  we  shall  come 
in  close  contact  with  each  other.  We  have  now  very  numerous  parties 
harassing  and  teasing  them  on  all  quarters." — General  Knox  to  William 
Knox. 

THURSDAY,  JUNE  25. 

At  Kingston,  New  Jersey:  "You  are  immediately  to 
proceed  with  the  detachment  commanded  by  General  Poor, 
and  form  a  junction  as  expeditiously  as  possible  with  that 
under  the  command  of  General  Scott.  You  are  to  use  the 
most  effectual  means  for  gaining  the  enemy's  left  flank  and 
rear,  and  giving  them  every  degree  of  annoyance.  All 
Continental  parties,  that  are  already  on  the  lines,  will  be 
under  your  command." —  Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  La 
fayette. 

In  the  council  of  war  held  at  Hopewell  on  the  24th,  General  Lee  had 
been  strongly  opposed  to  attacking  the  enemy,  and  when  this  measure  was 
decided  upon,  he  gave  up  the  command  of  the  advanced  divisions  to 
Lafayette ;  but  he  afterwards  altered  his  mind,  and  requested  to  be  restored 
to  the  command. 

The  army  left  Kingston  in  the  evening  of  the  25th  and  arrived  at  Cran 
berry  early  the  next  morning. 

FRIDAY,  JUNE  26. 

At  Cranberry,  New  Jersey :  "  Your  uneasiness  on  ac 
count  of  the  command  of  yesterday's  detachment  fills  me 
with  concern,  as  it  is  not  in  my  power  fully  to  remove  it 
without  wounding  the  feelings  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafay 
ette.  .  .  .  The  expedient  I  would  propose,  is,  for  you  to 
march  towards  the  Marquis  with  Scott's  and  Varnum's 
brigades.  Give  him  notice,  that  you  are  advancing  to  sup 
port  him,  and  that  you  are  to  have  the  command  of  the 
whole  advanced  body." —  Washington  to  General  Lee. 

As  Lee  was  the  senior  major-general,  this  gave  him  the  command  of  the 
whole  advance.  Washington  explained  the  matter  in  a  letter  of  the  same 
date  to  Lafayette,  who  accordingly  resigned  the  command  to  General  Lee, 
when  the  latter  joined  him  on  the  27th. 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  135 

SATUEDAY,  JUNE  27. 

Three  miles  west  of  Englishtown,  New  Jersey :  In  camp 
with  the  main  body  of  the  army. 

About  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  28th,  Washington  put  the  army 
in  motion,  and  after  marching  to  within  three  miles  of  Monmouth  Court- 
House,  met  the  whole  advanced  corps  under  the  command  of  General  Lee 
retiring  in  the  greatest  disorder,  and  the  enemy  pressing  upon  their  rear. 
Under  the  directions  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  however,  the  troops  were 
rallied,  and  the  enemy's  advance  checked. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  28. 

At  the  battle  of  Monmouth  Court-House  :  "  Which  from 
an  unfortunate  and  bad  beginning,  turned  out  a  glorious 
and  happy  day." —  Washington  to  John  Augustine  Washington, 
July  4,  1778. 

"  During  this  affair,  which  ended  so  well,  although  begun  so  ill,  General 
"Washington  appeared  to  arrest  fortune  by  one  glance,  and  his  presence  of 
mind,  valour,  and  decision  of  character,  were  never  displayed  to  greater 
advantage  than  at  that  moment.  The  general  and  he  [Lafayette]  passed 
the  night  lying  on  the  same  mantle,  talking  over  the  conduct  of  Lee,  who 
wrote  the  next  morning  a  very  improper  letter,  and  was  placed  under  arrest, 
He  was  afterwards  suspended  by  a  council  of  war,  quitted  the  service,  and 
was  not  regretted  by  the  army." — Memoirs  of  Lafayette. 

MONDAY,  JUNE  29. 

At  Monmouth  Court-House :  "  About  seven  o'clock  yes 
terday  morning,  both  armies  advanced  on  each  other. 
About  twelve,  they  met  on  the  grounds  near  Monmouth 
Court-House,  when  an  action  commenced.  "We  forced  the 
enemy  from  the  field,  and  encamped  on  the  ground.  They 
took  a  strong  post  in  our  front,  secured  on  both  flanks  by 
morasses  and  thick  woods,  where  they  remained  till  about 
twelve  at  night,  and  then  retreated." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

"  The  Commander-in-Chief  congratulates  the  Army  on  the  victory  ob 
tained  over  the  arms  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  yesterday,  and  thanks,  most 
sincerely,  the  gallant  officers  and  men  who  distinguished  themselves  upon 
the  occasion,  and  such  others  as,  by  their  good  order  and  coolness,  gave  tho 


136  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1778 

happiest  presages  of  what  might  have  been  expected  had  they  come  to 
action." — Orderly  Book,  June  29. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  1. 

At  Englishtown :  "  Being  fully  convinced  by  the  gentle 
men  of  this  country  that  the  enemy  cannot  be  hurt  or  injured 
in  their  embarkation  at  Sandy  Hook,  the  place  to  which 
they  are  going,  and  unwilling  to  get  too  far  removed  from 
the  North  River,  I  put  the  troops  in  motion  early  this  morn 
ing." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

Washington  fell  back  from  Monmouth  Court-House,  after  the  battle,  to 
Englishtown,  about  five  miles  to  the  westward.  He  left  Englishtown  on 
July  1,  and  reached  New  Brunswick  on  the  following  day,  the  army  en 
camping  on  both  sides  of  the  Karitan  Biver. 

FEIDAY,  JULY  3. 

At  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey:  "The  march  from 
Englishtown  was  inconceivably  distressing  to  the  troops  and 
horses.  The  distance  is  about  twenty  miles  through  a  deep 
sand  without  a  drop  of  water,  except  at  South  River,  which 
is  half  way.  .  .  .  My  present  intention  is  to  cross  the  North 
River  at  King's  Ferry." —  Washington  to  General  Gates. 

"To-morrow  [July  4th],  the  anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen 
dence,  will  be  celebrated  by  firing  thirteen  pieces  of  cannon  and  a  feu  de 
joie  of  the  whole  line.  The  army  will  be  formed  on  the  Brunswick  side  of 
the  Karitan,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  on  the  ground  pointed  out  by 
the  Quartermaster-General." — Orderly  Book,  July  3. 

TUESDAY,  JULY  7. 

At  New  Brunswick :  "  On  Sunday  morning,  the  left  wing 
of  the  army  moved  towards  the  North  River;  the  right 
followed  yesterday ;  and  the  second  line,  which  forms  the 
rear  division,  is  also  now  in  motion." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

"  The  army  moved  from  Brunswick  by  the  following  Stages  : — 1st,  to 
Scotch  Plains ;  2d,  Springfield ;  3d,  Wardiston ;  4th,  Aquackanonk ;  6th, 
Paramus ;  6th,  Cakaryatt  [Kakeate]  ;  7th,  King's  Ferry,  where  the  army 
crossed.  Scott's  and  Woodford's  brigades  crossed  July  17th.  Next  day 
Gen'l  Scott's  brigades  proceeded  on  towards  Croton's  Bridge.  Gen'l  Wood- 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  137 

ford's  marched  by  Peekskill  to  above  the  village,  where  they  lay  till  Mon 
day,  July  20th,  then  followed  after  the  army  which  had  by  this  time  got 
within  7  miles  of  White  Plains.  .  .  .  Friday,  24th,  the  army  moved  down 
to  White  Plains  and  joined  Gen'l  Gates'  army." — Diary  of  Joseph  Clark. 

SATURDAY,  JULY  11. 

At  Paramus,  New  Jersey :  "  The  left  wing  of  the  army 
is  advanced  four  miles  from  this  place,  and  nineteen  miles 
from  King's  Ferry;  the  other  two  divisions  are  moving 
after  it,  with  proper  intervals.  The  enemy,  since  quitting 
the  Jerseys,  have  encamped  in  three  divisions  on  Stateu 
Island,  New  York  Island  and  Long  Island." —  Washington  to 
General  Arnold. 

The  village  of  Paramus,  at  which  Washington  made  his  head-quarters 
until  July  15,  is  in  Bergen  County,  New  Jersey,  near  the  New  York  line, 
and  about  forty  miles  northeast  of  New  Brunswick. 

SUNDAY,  JULY  12. 

At  Paramus :  "  The  vote  of  approbation  and  thanks, 
which  Congress  have  been  pleased  to  honor  me  with,  gives 
me  the  highest  satisfaction,  and  at  the  same  time  demands 
a  return  of  my  sincerest  acknowledgments.  .  .  The  left 
wing  of  the  army,  which  advanced  yesterday  four  miles 
beyond  this,  moved  this  morning  on  the  route  towards 
King's  Ferry.  The  right  and  second  line,  which  make  the 
last  division,  are  now  here,  where  they  will  halt  for  a  day 
or  two,  or  perhaps  longer." —  Washington  to  the  President  of 
Congress. 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  be  given  to  general 
Washington  for  the  activity  with  which  he  marched  from  the  Camp  at 
Valley  Forge  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy ;  for  his  distinguished  exertions  in 
forming  the  line  of  battle ;  and  for  his  great  good  conduct  in  leading  on  the 
attack  and  gaining  the  important  victory  of  Monmouth  over  the  British 
grand  army  under  the  command  of  general  sir  H.  Clinton,  in  their  march 
from  Philadelphia  to  New  York." — Journal  of  Congress,  July  7,  1778. 

TUESDAY,  JULY  14. 

At  Paramus :  "  I  take  the  earliest  opportunity  to  advise 


138  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1778 

you,  that  I  have  been  informed  of  your  arrival  on  this  coast, 
with  a  fleet  of  Ships  under  your  command,  belonging  to  his 
Most  Christian  Majesty,  our  great  ally.  I  congratulate  you, 
Sir,  most  sincerely  upon  this  event,  and  beg  leave  to  assure 
you  of  my  warmest  wishes  for  your  success.  The  intelli 
gence  of  your  arrival  was  communicated  to  me  last  night 
by  a  Letter  from  the  Honble.  Mr.  Laurens,  President  of  the 
Congress." — Washington  to  Count  d'Estaing. 

This  fleet,  composed  of  twelve  ships  of  the  line  and  six  frigates,  with  a 
land  force  of  four  thousand  men,  fitted  out  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  of 
the  treaty  of  alliance  with  France  (February  6,  1778),  had  sailed  from 
Toulon  on  the  13th  of  April,  but  did  not  reach  the  mouth  of  the  Delaware 
till  the  8th  of  July.  It  had  on  board  M.  Gerard,  the  French  Minister 
Plenipotentiary  to  the  United  States,  and  Silas  Deane,  one  of  the  American 
commissioners  who  had  effected  the  treaty  of  alliance.  Count  d'Estaing, 
finding  that  the  British  had  evacuated  Philadelphia,  sent  up  the  French 
minister  and  Mr.  Deane  to  the  city  in  a  frigate,  and  proceeded  with  the  fleet- 
to  Sandy  Hook,  where  he  arrived  on  the  llth  of  July.  In  August,  in  co 
operation  with  land  forces  under  General  Sullivan,  he  made  a  demonstration 
against  Newport,  K.I.,  which  obliged  the  British  to  destroy  six  of  their 
frigates  and  some  smaller  vessels  lying  there  ;  but  the  fleet  was  so  shattered 
by  a  storm  as  to  be  obliged  to  refit  at  Boston.  In  1779  he  sailed  to  the 
"West  Indies,  and  in  October  of  that  year,  in  co-operation  with  the  Southern 
army,  under  General  Lincoln,  attempted  to  recover  Savannah,  which  had 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  British  in  December,  1778.  The  attempt  was 
unsuccessful,  D'Estaing  himself  being  wounded  in  the  assault.  The  fleet 
reached  France  on  its  return  in  December,  1779. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  15. 

Leaves  Paramus  :  Washington  moved  the  army  on  the 
15th  to  Haverstraw,  New  York,  five  miles  below  Stony 
Point  (the  western  landing  of  King's  Ferry),  and  on  the 
following  day  visited  West  Point,  fifteen  miles  up  the  river. 
On  the  17th  the  troops  began  crossing  the  North  Eiver  at 
King's  Ferry,  Washington  passing  over  with  the  last  division 
at  about  twelve  o'clock  noon  on  Sunday  the  19th. 

"  July  16. — His  Excellency  the  Commander  in  Chief  visited  West  Point, 
to  take  a  view  of  the  works  which  are  constructing  there.  His  arrival  was 
announced  by  the  discharge  of  thirteen  cannon,  the  number  of  the  United 
States." — Tkacher's  Military  Journal. 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  139 

FRIDAY,  JULY  17. 

At  Haverstraw,  New  York :  "  I  had  the  honor  of  receiving 
the  night  of  the  14th  instant,  your  very  obliging  and  inter 
esting  letter  of  the  13th  dated  off  Sandy  Hook,  with  a 
duplicate  of  another,  dated  the  8th  at  Sea." —  Washington  to 
Count  d'JEstaing. 

In  his  letter  of  the  8th,  after  announcing  the  arrival  of  the  fleet,  Count 
d'Estaing  added  :  "  The  talents  and  the  great  actions  of  General  Washing 
ton  have  secured  to  him,  in  the  eyes  of  all  Europe,  the  truly  sublime  title  of 
the  liberator  of  America.  Accept,  Sir,  the  homage,  which  every  man,  and 
especially  every  military  man,  owes  you  ;  and  be  not  displeased  that  I  solicit, 
even  in  the  first  instance  of  intercourse,  with  military  and  naval  frankness, 
a  friendship  so  nattering  as  yours." 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  22. 

At  White  Plains,  New  York :  "  On  Monday  afternoon 
[July  20th]  I  arrived  at  this  place,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
which  the  right  and  left  wing  encamped  that  night,  with 
the  second  line  a  few  miles  in  the  rear." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

FKIDAY,  JULY  24. 

At  "White  Plains :  "  It  is  neither  the  expense  nor  trouble 
of  them  [foreign  officers]  that  I  most  dread.  There  is  an 
evil  more  extensive  in  its  nature,  and  fatal  in  its  consequences, 
to  be  apprehended,  and  that  is,  the  driving  of  all  our  own 
officers  out  of  the  service,  and  throwing  not  only  our  army, 
but  our  military  councils,  entirely  into  the  hands  of  foreign 
ers." —  Washington  to  Gouverneur  Morris. 

Washington  was  exceedingly  embarrassed  by  the  foreign  officers  who  were 
admitted  into  the  service  by  Congress,  and  then  turned  over  to  him  to  be 
provided  with  employment,  thus  deranging  the  system  of  the  army,  and 
interfering  with  native  officers. 

MONDAY,  AUGUST  3. 

At  White  Plains  :  "  In  justice  to  General  Greene,  I  take 
occasion  to  observe,  that  the  public  is  much  indebted  to  him, 
for  his  judicious  management  and  active  exertions,  in  his 


140  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1778 

present  department  [quartermaster-general].  "When  he 
entered  upon  it,  he  found  it  in  a  most  confused,  distracted, 
and  destitute  state.  This,  by  his  conduct  and  industry,  has 
undergone  a  very  happy  change,  and  such,  as  enabled  us, 
with  great  facility,  to  make  a  sudden  move,  with  the  whole 
army  &  baggage  from  Valley  forge,  in  pursuit  of  the  Enemy, 
and  to  perform  a  march  to  this  place.  In  a  word,  he  has 
given  the  most  general  satisfaction  and  his  affairs  carry 
much  the  face  of  method  and  system.  I  also  consider  it  as 
an  act  of  justice  to  speak  of  the  conduct  of  Colo.  Wads- 
worth,  Commissary  General.  He  has  been  indefatigable  in 
his  exertions  to  provide  for  the  Army,  and  since  his  appoint 
ment,  our  supplies  of  provisions  have  been  good  and  ample." 

—  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  20. 

At  "White  Plains:  "It  is  not  a  little  pleasing,  nor  less 
wonderful  to  contemplate,  that  after  two  years'  manoeuvring 
and  undergoing  the  strangest  vicissitudes,  that  perhaps  ever 
attended  any  one  contest  since  the  creation,  both  armies  are 
brought  back  to  the  very  point  they  set  out  from,  and  that 
which  was  the  offending  party  in  the  beginning  is  now  re 
duced  to  the  use  of  the  spade  and  pickaxe  for  defence." — 
Washington  to  General  Nelson. 

SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  12. 

At  White  Plains :  "  I  intend  to  place  the  whole  [army]  in 
such  a  position  in  a  day  or  two,  that  they  may  either  march 
to  the  Eastward,  or  be  within  supporting  distance  of  the 
posts  upon  the  North  River,  as  appearances  may  require." 

—  Washington  to  General  Sullivan. 

Washington  remained  at  White  Plains  until  the  16th  of  September,  when 
he  moved  the  camp  to  Fredericksburg,  then  a  precinct  of  Dutchess  County, 
now  a  portion  of  Putnam  County,  New  York.  His  head-quarters  were  at 
Patte'rson,  a  village  almost  due  east  from  Newburgh,  and  near  the  Connecti 
cut  line.  Washington  was  at  West  Point  on  the  19th  of  September,  but 
•whether  the  visit  was  made  before  or  after  reaching  Fredericksburg  we  can 
not  determine. 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  141 

WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  23. 

At  Fredericksburg :  "  The  place  I  now  date  from  is  about 
thirty  miles  from  the  fort  [West  Point]  on  the  North  River ; 
and  I  have  some  troops  nearer,  and  others  farther  off,  but 
all  on  the  road  leading  to  Boston,  if  we  should  be  dragged 
that  way." — Washington  to  John  Augustine  Washington. 

In  the  same  letter  Washington  wrote  :  "  There  are  but  two  capital  objects, 
which  they  [the  enemy]  can  have  in  view,  except  the  defeat  and  dispersion 
of  this  army ;  and  those  are  the  possession  of  the  fortifications  in  the  High 
lands,  by  which  the  communication  between  the  eastern  and  southern  States 
would  be  cut  off,  and  the  destruction  of  the  French  fleet  at  Boston.  ...  I 
have,  therefore,  in  order  to  do  the  best  that  the  nature  of  ihe  case  will  admit, 
strengthened  the  works,  and  reinforced  the  garrison  in  the  Highlands,  and 
thrown  the  army  into  such  positions,  as  to  move  eastward  or  westward,  as 
circumstances  may  require." 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25. 

At  Frederieksburg :  "  Immediately  upon  my  removal  from 

the  White  Plains  to  this  ground,  the  enemy  threw  a  body 

of  troops  into  the  Jerseys ;  but  for  what  purpose,  unless  to 

make  a  grand  forage,  I  have  not  been  able  yet  to  learn." — 

Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  3. 

At  Fishkill,  New  York :  "  The  enemy  in  the  Jerseys 
having  received  a  reinforcement  and  made  some  forward 
movements,  I  ordered  Major-General  Putnam  across  the 
river  for  the  immediate  security  of  West  Point,  and  moved 
a  division  of  troops  to  this  place,  to  be  nearer  that  post.  I 
have  since  come  here  myself,  and  propose  to  remain  till  the 
•views  of  the  enemy  on  the  Jerseys  are  decided." —  Washing 
ton  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

When  at  Fishkill  village  (fifteen  miles  west  of  the  Fredericksburg  head 
quarters),  Washington  sometimes  quartered  at  the  house  of  Colonel  John 
Brinckerhoff.  The  house,  which  was  built  in  1738,  is  still  standing,  and  re 
mains  unaltered.  It  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Alfred  White.  The  house 
of  Colonel  Derrick  Brinckerhoff  (a  nephew  of  the  former)  was  also  resorted 
to  by  Washington.  This  house  still  remains  in  the  Brinckerhoff  family. 


142  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON,          [1778 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  4. 

At  Fishkill :  "  Can  we,  carry  on  the  war  much  longer  ? 
Certainly  No,  unless  some  measures  can  be  devised  & 
speedily  executed  to  restore  the  credit  of  our  currency,  re 
strain  extortion,  &  punish  forestallers.  Without  these  can 
be  effected,  what  funds  can  stand  the  present  expenses  of 
the  army  ?  And  what  officer  can  bear  the  weight  of  prices, 
that  every  necessary  article  is  now  got  to  ?  A  Rat  in  the 
fhape  of  a  horse,  is  not  to  be  bought  at  this  time  for  less 
than  £200 ;  A  Saddle  under  Thirty  or  Forty ; — Boots  twenty, 
— and  shoes  and  other  articles  in  the  like  proportion." — 
Washington  to  Gouverneur  Morris. 

THUKSDAY,  OCTOBER  8. 

Visits  the  Hospital  at  the  "  Robinson  House"  :  "  His  Ex 
cellency  the  Commander  in  Chief,  made  a  visit  to  our  hospi 
tal  ;  his  arrival  was  scarcely  announced,  before  he  presented 
himself  at  our  doors.  Dr.  Williams  and  myself  had  the 
honor  to  wait  on  this  great  and  truly  good  man,  through  the 
different  wards,  and  to  reply  to  his  inquiries  relative  to  the 
condition  of  our  patients.  He  appeared  to  take  a  deep 
interest  in  the  situation  of  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers, 
and  inquired  particularly  as  to  their  treatment  and  comfort 
able  accommodations." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

Dr.  Thacher's  description  of  the  personal  appearance  of  Washington,  at 
the  time  of  this  visit  to  the  "  Robinson  Houce"  (a  little  below  West  Point, 
on  the  opposite  or  east  bank  of  the  Hudson),  is  well  worth  transcribing: 
"  The  personal  appearance  of  our  Commander  in  Chief,  is  that  of  the  perfect 
gentleman  and  accomplished  warrior.  He  is  remarkably  tall,  full  six  feet, 
erect  and  well  proportioned.  The  strength  and  proportion  of  his  joints  and 
muscles,  appear  to  be  commensurate  with  the  preeminent  powers  of  his 
mind.  The  serenity  of  his  countenance,  and  majestic  gracefulness  of  his 
deportment,  impart  a  strong  impression  of  that  dignity  and  grandeur,  which 
are  his  peculiar  characteristics,  and  no  one  can  stand  in  his  presence  without 
feeling  the  ascendency  of  his  mind,  and  associating  with  his  countenance 
the  idea  of  wisdom,  philanthropy,  magnanimity,  and  patriotism.  There  is 
a  fine  symmetry  in  the  features  of  his  face  indicative  of  a  benign  and  digni 
fied  spirit.  His  nose  is  strait,  and  his  eyes  inclined  to  blue.  He  wears  his 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  143 

hair  in  a  becoming  cue,  and  from  his  forehead  it  is  turned  back  and  powdered 
in  a  manner  which  adds  to  the  military  air  of  his  appearance.  He  displays 
a  native  gravity,  but  devoid  of  all  appearance  of  ostentation.  His  uniform 
dress  is  a  blue  coat,  with  two  brilliant  epaulettes,  buff  colored  under  clothes, 
and  a  three  cornered  hat  with  a  black  cockade.  He  is  constantly  equipped 
with  an  elegant  small  sword,  boots  and  spurs,  in  readiness  to  mount  his 
noble  charger." 

SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  10. 

At  Fredericksburg :  "  I  have  just  received  intelligence, 
bearing  strong  marks  of  authenticity,  that  the  enemy  mean 
a  total  evacuation  of  New  York.  Various  are  the  conjec 
tures  of  their  destination.  I  cannot  think  they  mean  to 
attempt  any  thing  against  Boston,  considering  the  danger 
of  taking  a  heavy  fleet  round  Cape  Cod  at  this  advanced 
season." — Washington  to  General  Heath. 

"  The  enemy  in  reality  had  no  designs  against  the  French  fleet  at  Boston, 
though  it  is  probable  they  kept  up  an  appearance  of  such  a  purpose  by  way 
of  feint.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  wrote  to  Lord  George  Germain  at  this  time, 
informing  him  that  the  convoy  was  ready,  and  five  thousand  troops  would 
shortly  be  despatched  to  the  West  Indies,  and  three  thousand  more  to 
Florida.  '  With  an  army  so  much  diminished  at  New  York,'  he  added, 
'  nothing  important  can  be  done  ;  especially  as  it  is  also  weakened  by  send 
ing  seven  hundred  men  to  Halifax,  and  three  hundred  to  Bermuda.'" — 
Sparks,  vi.  88. 

Washington  returned  to  the  Fredericksburg  head-quarters  about  October 
9,  and  remained  there,  with  the  exception  of  a  second  trip  to  Fishkill  (noted 
in  his  expense  account),  until  the  28th  of  November,  when  he  set  out  for 
Middlebrook,  New  Jersey. 

FRIDAY,  OCTOBER  16. 

At  Fredericksburg :  Orderly  Hook. — "  To-Morrow  being 
the  glorious  anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  Gen1  Borgoine 
and  his  Troops  to  the  arms  of  America  under  the  Command 
of  Major  G-eu1  Gates,  it  will  be  Commemorated  by  the  firing 
of  13  Pieces  of  Cannon  from  the  park  of  artillery  at  12 
o'clock." 

SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  14. 

At  Fredericksburg :   "  The  question  of  the  Canadian  ex- 


144  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1778 

pedition,  in  the  form  in  which  it  now  stands,  appears  to  me 
one  of  the  most  interesting  that  has  hitherto  agitated  our 

o  o 

national  deliberations." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Con 
gress. 

"  In  the  autumn  of  this  year  [1778],  while  at  Fishkill,  Mr.  Jay  received 
a  visit  from  General  Washington,  whose  head-quarters  were  at  the  time  in 
the  adjoining  county  of  Westchester  [Dutchess].  The  object  of  the  visit 
was  a  confidential  conversation  on  a  plan  then  before  Congress,  for  the 
invasion  of  Canada  the  ensuing  campaign,  by  the  combined  forces  of  the 
United  States  and  of  France.  They  both  concurred  in  disapproving  of  the 
plan." — Life  of  John  Jay,  i.  83. 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER  16. 

At  Fredericksburg:  "I  have  yours  of  the  13th,  contain 
ing  the  disagreeable  account  of  the  attack  upon  Colonel 
AJden's  regiment  at  Cherry  Valley.  .  .  It  is  in  the  highest 
degree  distressing  to  have  our  frontier  so  continually  har 
assed  by  this  collection  of  banditti,  under  Brant  and  Butler." 
—  Washington  to  General  Ha'nd. 

Colonel  Ichabod  Alden  commanded  a  regiment  of  Continental  troops 
from  Massachusetts,  stationed  at  Cherry  Valley,  New  York,  a  settlement 
near  the  head  waters  of  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Susquehanna.  The  attack 
on  that  place  (November  10),  and  the  massacre  of  its  inhabitants  by  a  party 
of  Tories  and  Indians,  commanded  by  Walter  Butler  and  the  noted  Joseph 
Brant,  constitute  one  of  the  most  tragical  events  in  the  history  of  border 
warfare.  Colonel  Alden  was  killed,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants,  men, 
women,  and  children,  were  butchered  in  cold  blood. 

FRIDAY,  NOVEMBER  27. 

At  Fredericksburg :  "  I  am  upon  the  eve  of  my  departure 
for  winter-quarters.  ...  It  is  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  and 
I  am  to  set  out  early  in  the  morning." —  Washington  to  Joseph 
Heed. 

The  disposition  of  the  army  for  winter-quarters  was  as  follows.  Nine 
brigades  were  stationed  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson,  one  of  which,  the 
North  Carolina  brigade,  was  near  Smith's  Clove ;  another,  the  Jersey  brigade, 
at  Elizabethtown ;  and  seven,  consisting  of  the  Virginia,  Maryland,  Dela 
ware,  and  Pennsylvania  troops,  were  at  Middlebrook.  One  brigade  was  at 
West  Point  in  addition  to  the  garrison,  and  five  were  on  the  east  side  of  the 


1778]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  145 

river  ;  two  at  Fishkill  and  the  Continental  Village,  and  three,  composed  of 
the  New  Hampshire  and  Connecticut  troops,  and  Hazen's  regiment,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Danbury.  The  park  of  artillery  was  at  Pluckamin. 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  1. 

,  At  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey :  "  In  arranging  the  winter 
quarters  of  the  army,  Gen.  "Washington  made  choice  of 
Middlebrook,  Somerset  County,  N.  J.,  for  his  own  head- 
quarteis  with  seven  brigades,  detailing  the  Jersey  Brigade 
to  occupy  Elizabeth  Town,  as  the  advanced  post  of  the 
army.  This  brought  him  on  the  1st  of  December,  to  this 
town  [Elizabethtown],  where  he  remained  until  the  morn 
ing  of  the  5th.  In  honor  of  his  visit,  a  festive  entertain 
ment  was  given,  on  the  fourth." — Hatfield's  History  of  Eliz 
abeth,  p.  471. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  7. 

At  Paramus,  New  Jersey :  "  I  returned  to  this  place  from 
Elizabethtown,  upon  hearing  that  the  enemy  had  gone  up 
the  North  River,  in  considerable  force.  Their  ships  pro 
ceeded  as  far  as  King's  Ferry,  but  they  yesterday  fell  down 
again.  ...  I  shall  set  out  to-morrow  for  Middlebrook." — 
Washington  to  Governor  Livingston. 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  12. 

At  Middlebrook,  New  Jersey :  "  Sir  Harry's  late  extra 
manoeuvre  up  the  North  River  kept  me  upon  the  march 
and  countermarch  from  the  5th  till  yesterday,  when  I  ar 
rived  at  these  my  quarters  for  the  winter,  and  employed  too 
much  of  my  attention  to  investigate  his  designs,  to  indulge 
in  more  agreeable  amusements."  —  Washington  to  Joseph 
Heed. 

The  letter  from  Washington  to  Joseph  Reed,  from  which  the  above  ex 
tract  is  made,  was  written  to  congratulate  him  on  his  election  as  President 
of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania. 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  13. 

At  Middlebrook :   "  I  did  not  reach  this  place  till  late  on 

11 


146  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1778 

the  llth,  since  which  I  have  heen  much  employed  in  at 
tending  to  the  dispositions  for  hutting  the  army." — Wash 
ington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

Washington's  head-quarters,  as  stated  by  Andrew  D.  Mellick  in  his 
"  Story  of  an  Old  Farm,"  were  at  the  Wallace  house,  about  four  miles  west 
of  Middlebrook,  on  ground  now  in  Somerville,  the  county-seat  of  Somerset 
County,  New  Jersey  ;  the  house  is  still  standing.  General  Knox  had  his 
quarters  at  Pluckamin,  six  miles  to  the  north  of  the  Wallace  house,  where 
his  artillery  brigade  was  comfortably  hutted.  The  main  body  of  the  army 
was  located  near  to  Middlebrook,  or  Bound  Brook  as  it  is  more  generally 
called. 

FRIDAY,  DECEMBER  18. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  I  beg  you  will  accept  my  thanks  for 
your  obliging  letter  of  the  30th  ultimo,  and  the  polite  ex 
pressions  of  your  friendship  which  accompany  it.  At  the 
same  time  I  am  happy  to  congratulate  you  on  your  honor 
able  acquittal  with  the  approbation  of  Congress." —  Wash 
ington  to  General  Schuykr. 

The  charge  against  General  Schuyler  was  neglect  of  duty,  in  not  being 
present  at  Ticonderoga  when  it  was  evacuated  by  General  St.  Clair.  The 
entire  proceedings  of  the  northern  campaign  of  1777,  while  General  Schuyler 
had  the  command,  were  investigated  by  the  court-martial  at  his  request. 
He  submitted  in  detail  his  instructions  and  orders,  and  was  unanimously 
acquitted  by  the  court  "with  the  highest  honor."  This  acquittal  was  con 
firmed  by  Congress,  December  3. 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  20. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  The  army  is  now  a  hutting,  I  believe 
we  are  the  first  army  that  ever  built  themselves  Winter- 
quarters  at  the  close  of  a  Campaign.  The  mode  has  an 
appearance  of  hardship  and  it  is  attended  with  many  incon 
veniences  to  the  Officers,  but  the  Soldiers  are  very  comfort 
able.  We  can  barrack  the  Troops  in  a  short  time,  and 
with  little  expense.  .  .  His  Excellency  General  Washington 
is  going  to  Philadelphia  in  order  to  settle  some  points  rela 
tive  to  a  certain  expedition  in  contemplation  to  the  N — d, 
he  sets  out  to-morrow." — General  Greene  to  John  Hancock. 


1778]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  147 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  21. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  Congress  having  been  pleased  to  re 
quire  my  attendance  at  Philadelphia  for  a  few  days  the  im 
mediate  command  of  the  Troops  at  this  place  will  devolve 
upon  your  Lordship." — Washington  to  Lord  Stirling. 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  22. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  Last  Tuesday  [December  22]  GEORGE 
WASHINGTON,  esq.,  commander  in  chief  of  the  army  of  the 
United  States  arrived  here  [Philadelphia].  Too  great  for 
pomp,  and  as  if  fond  of  the  plain  and  respectable  rank  of  a 
free  and  independent  citizen,  his  excellency  came  in  so  late 
in  the  day  as  to  prevent  the  Philadelphia,  troop  of  militia 
lighthorse,  gentlemen,  officers  of  the  militia,  and  others  of 
this  city,  from  shewing  those  marks  of  unfeigned  regard  for 
this  good  and  great  man,  which  they  fully  intended,  and 
especially  of  receiving  him  at  his  entrance  into  the  State, 
and  escorting  him  hither." — Pennsylvania  Evening  Post,  De 
cember  28,  1778. 

THURSDAY,  DECEMBER  24. 

At  Philadelphia :  In  attendance  on  Congress,  and  is  in 
formed,  from  the  chair,  that  Congress  had  directed  his  at 
tendance  "  in  order,  among  other  things,  to  confer  with  him 
on  the  operations  of  the  next  campaign,  and  that  a  com 
mittee  will  be  appointed  for  that  purpose."  On  the  same 
day  receives  and  answers  an  address  from  the  Supreme 
Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  28. 

At  Philadelphia :  Present  at  the  celebration  of  the  festival 
of  St.  John  the  Evangelist  by  the  "  Most  ancient  and  wor 
shipful  Society  of  Free  and  accepted  Masons,"  being  hon 
ored  with  the  chief  place  in  the  procession,  supported  on  his 
right  by  the  Grand  Master,  and  on  his  left  by  the  Deputy 
Grand  Master.  In  the  sermon  preached  in  Christ  Church, 


148  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1778 

on  this  occasion,  by  the  Rev.  Brother  William  Smith,  DJX, 
"Washington  was  alluded  to  as  the  Cincinnatus  of  America. 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  29. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  This  will  be  accompanied  by  a  letter 
from  Congress,  which  will  inform  you,  that  a  certain  expe 
dition,  after  a  full  consideration  of  all  circumstances,  has 
been  laid  aside." —  Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

The  "  certain  expedition"  was  the  invasion  of  Canada  by  the  combined 
forces,  naval  and  military,  of  France  and  the  United  States,  which  had 
been  advanced  and  strongly  advocated  by  Lafayette.  The  scheme  met  the 
approbation  of  a  large  majority  in  Congress,  but  Washington  opposed  it, 
and  the  committee  appointed  on  the  24th  to  confer  with  him  reported 
against  it.  The  report  was  approved  by  Congress,  and  the  President  was 
instructed  to  write  to  Lafayette,  who  was  about  returning  to  France  on  a 
visit.  The  marquis  sailed  from  Boston  January  11,  1779.  The  letters, 
however,  did  not  reach  him  before  his  departure,  so  that  he  went  to  France 
without  being  informed  of  the  decision  of  Congress. 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER  30. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  If  I  was  to  be  called  upon  to  draw  a 
picture  of  the  times  and  of  Men,  from  what  I  have  seen, 
and  heard,  and  in  part  know,  I  should  in  one  word  say  that 
idleness,  dissipation  &  extravagance  seems  to  have  laid  fast 
hold  of  most  of  them. — That  speculation — peculation — and 
an  insatiable  thirst  for  riches  seems  to  have  got  the  better 
of  every  other  consideration  and  almost  of  every  order  of 
Men. — That  party  disputes  and  personal  quarrels  are  the 
great  business  of  the  day  whilst  the  momentous  concerns  of 
an  empire — a  great  and  accumulated  debt — ruined  finances 
— depreciated  money — and  want  of  credit  (which  in  their 
consequences  is  the  want  of  everything)  are  but  secondary 
considerations  and  postponed  from  day  to  day — from  week 
to  week  as  if  our  affairs  wear  the  most  promising  aspect — 
after  drawing  this  picture,  which  from  my  Soul  I  believe  to 
be  a  true  one,  I  need  not  repeat  to  you  that  I  am  alarmed 
and  wish  to  see  my  Countrymen  roused." — Washington  to 
Benjamin  Harrison. 


1779- 


WEDNESDAY,  JANUARY  6. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  I  have  lately  been  several  times  in 
vited  abroad  with  the  General  and  Mrs.  Washington.  He 
always  inquires  after  you  in  the  most  affectionate  manner, 
and  speaks  of  you  highly.  We  danced  at  Mrs.  Powell's 
your  birth-day  [January  6,  (O.S.)  1706],  or  night  I  should 
say,  in  company  together,  and  he  told  me  it  was  the  anni 
versary  of  his  marriage  [January  6,  (l^.S.)  1759J  ;  it  was  just 
twenty  years  that  night." — Mrs.  Bache  to  Dr.  Franklin, 
January  17,  1779. 

Mrs.  Powel  (Elizabeth  Willing),  at  whose  house  Mrs.  Bache,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Franklin,  danced  in  company  together  with  General  Wash 
ington,  on  the  evening  of  January  6,  1779,  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Powel, 
mayor  of  Philadelphia  in  1775  and  1789.  When  in  Philadelphia,  Washing 
ton  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  the  Powel  house,  still  standing,  on  the  west 
side  of  Third  Street,  between  Walnut  and  Spruce  Streets,  No.  244;  old 
number,  112. 

FRIDAY,  JANUARY  15. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  It  is  much  to  be  regretted,  that  our 
prospect  of  any  capital  offensive  operations  is  so  slender, 
that  we  seem  in  a  manner  to  be  driven  to  the  necessity  of 
adopting  the  plan  to  remain  intirely  on  the  defensive ;  ex 
cept  such  lesser  operations  against  the  Indians,  as  are  abso 
lutely  necessary  to  divert  their  ravages  from  us.  ...  The 
main  Body  of  the  army  must  take  a  position  so  as  to  be 
most  easily  subsisted,  and  at  the  same  time  best  situated  to 
restrain  the  Enemy  from  ravaging  the  Country.  If  they 
should  hereafter  weaken  themselves  still  more,  so  as  to  give 
a  favorable  opening,  we  should  endeavour  to  improve  it." — 
Washington  to  the  Committee  of  Congress. 

149 


150  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1779 

The  Committee  of  Congress,  appointed  December  24,  1778,  to  confer  with 
the  Commander-in-Chief  on  the  operations  of  the  next  campaign,  was  com 
posed  of  James  Duane,  Jesse  Hoot,  Melancthon  Smith,  Gouverneur  Morris, 
and  Henry  Laurens.  After  submitting  a  paper  containing  Minutes  of  the 
several  topics  which  were  likely  to  be  brought  forward  in  the  conference, 
Washington,  at  the  request  of  the  committee,  made  several  explanatory 
communications,  from  one  of  which  the  above  extract  is  made.  The  plan 
of  a  defensive  campaign,  suggested  by  the  Commander-in-Chief,  was  finally 
adopted,  as  being  the  best  under  the  circumstances,  and  the  least  expensive. 

MONDAY,  JANUAKY  18. 

At  Philadelphia :  Present  at  a  banquet  given  by  Congress 
to  the  French  minister,  to  celebrate  the  French  alliance,  at 
which  thirteen  toasts  were  drunk,  accompanied  by  salutes 
of  artillery. 

WEDNESDAY,  JANUAKY  20. 

At  Philadelphia :  Informs  the  Supreme  Executive  Coun 
cil  of  Pennsylvania,  by  letter,  of  his  willingness  to  sit  to 
Charles  Willson  Peale  for  his  portrait,  to  be  placed  in  the 
Council  Chamber,  as  requested  by  them  in  a  resolution  of 
January  18. 

For  the  history  of  this  portrait,  destroyed  in  September,  1781,  and  the 
engraving  of  it  executed  by  Mr.  Peale  in  1780,  consult  the  paper  entitled 
"The  History  of  a  Bare  Washington  Print,"  Pennsylvania  Magazine,  vol. 
xiii.  p.  257.  See  Frontispiece. 

FRIDAY,  JANUAKY  29. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  My  long  and  unexpected  stay  in  this 
City  being  attended  with  many  inconveniences  to  the  com 
mon  business  of  the  army,  and  in  other  respects,  I  feel  my 
self  under  the  necessity  of  requesting  the  permission  of 
Congress  to  return ;  and,  if  consistent  with  their  views,  I 
should  be  glad  to  set  out  for  the  camp  at  Middlebrook  on 
Monday  next." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

MONDAY,  FEBKUAKY  1. 

At  Philadelphia :  Sits  to  Pierre  Eugene  du  Simitiere  for 
his  portrait,  the  sitting  being  recorded  in  the  note-book  of 


1779]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  151 

the  artist,  printed  in  the  Pennsylvania  Magazine,  vol.  xiii.  p. 
359 :  "Paintings  &  Drawings  done  1779  feby  1'*  a  drawing 
in  black  lead  of  a  likeness  in  profil  of  his  Excellency  gen 
eral  Washington,  form  of  a  medal,  for  my  collection.  N"  B 
the  general  at  the  request  of  the  Hon.  Mr  Jay  President  of 
congress,  came  with  him  to  my  house  this  morning  &  con 
descended  with  great  good  nature  to  Sit  about  f  of  an  hour 
for  the  above  likeness,  having  but  little  time  to  Spare  being 
the  last  day  of  his  stay  in  town." 

The  drawing  by  Du  Simitiere  is  not  in  existence,  but  the  portrait  is  well 
known  through  engravings,  the  first  of  which  was  published  at  Madrid  in 
1781.  See  Baker's  "  Engraved  Portraits  of  Washington,"  pp.  39,  41. 

TUESDAY,  FEBRUARY  2. 

Leaves  Philadelphia :  "  Tuesday  morning  [February  2], 
His  Excellency  General  Washington  set  off  from  Philadel 
phia  to  join  the  army  in  New  Jersey.  During  the  course 
of  his  short  stay  (the  only  relief  he  has  enjoyed  from  service 
since  he  first  entered  into  it),  he  has  been  honored  with 
every  mark  of  esteem  which  his  exalted  qualities  as  a  gen 
tleman  and  a  citizen  entitle  him  to.  His  Excellency's  stay 
was  rendered  the  more  agreeable  by  the  company  of  his 
lady,  and  the  domestic  retirement  which  he  enjoyed  at  the 
house  of  the  Honorable  Henry  Laurens,  Esquire,  with  whom 
he  resided." — Pennsylvania  Packet,  February  4,  1779. 

FRIDAY,  FEBRUARY  5. 

At  Middlebrook,  New  Jersey :  "  It  was  not  till  the  5th 
instant,  I  returned  to  this  place.  While  in  Philadelphia 
what  between  Congress  and  a  special  committee  of  that 
body  I  was  furnished  with  ample  employment.  I  had  few 
moments  of  relaxation." — Washington  to  General  Sehuyler, 
February  11. 

THURSDAY,  FEBRUARY  18. 

At  General  Knox's  quarters,  Pluckamin :  "  The  anniver 
sary  of  our  alliance  with  France  was  celebrated  in  proper 


152  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1779 

style  near  headquarters,  at  Pluckemin.  A  splendid  enter 
tainment  was  given  by  General  Knox  and  the  officers  of 
the  artillery.  General  Washington,  and  his  lady,  with  the 
principal  officers  of  the  army  and  their  ladies,  and  a  con 
siderable  number  of  respectable  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the 
state  of  New  Jersey,  formed  the  brilliant  assembly.  About 
four  o'clock  sixteen  cannon  were  discharged,  and  the  com 
pany  collected  in  a  large  public  building  to  partake  of  an 
elegant  dinner.  In  the  evening  a  very  beautiful  set  of  fire 
works  was  exhibited,  and  the  celebration  was  concluded  by 
a  splendid  ball  opened  by  his  Excellency  General  "Washing 
ton,  having  for  his  partner  the  lady  of  General  Knox." — 
Thacker's  Military  Journal. 

This  celebration  was  in  honor  of  the  first  anniversary  of  the  French 
alliance ;  it  should  properly  have  taken  place  on  the  6th,  but  was  deferred 
to  the  18th  because  of  Washington's  absence  from  camp.  General  Knox, 
in  a  letter  of  February  28,  wrote  to  his  brother :  "  We  had  at  the  Park  [of 
artillery]  on  the  18th  a  most  genteel  entertainment  given  by  self  and  officers. 
Everybody  allows  it  to  be  the  first  of  the  kind  ever  exhibited  in  this  State 
at  least.  We  had  above  seventy  ladies,  all  of  the  first  ton  in  the  State,  and 
between  three  and  four  hundred  gentlemen.  We  danced  all  night — an 
elegant  room,  the  illuminating,  fireworks,  &c.,  were  more  than  pretty.  It 
was  to  celebrate  the  alliance  between  France  and  America." 

THURSDAY,  FEBRUARY  25. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  February  26th. — Yesterday  I  accom 
panied  Major  Cavil  to  head  quarters,  and  had  the  honor  of 
being  numbered  among  the  guests  at  the  table  of  his  Ex 
cellency,  with  his  lady,  two  young  ladies  from  Virginia,  the 
gentlemen  who  compose  his  family,  and  several  other  officers. 
It  is  natural  to  view  with  keen  attention  the  countenance  of 
an  illustrious  man,  with  a  secret  hope  of  discovering  in  his 
features  some  peculiar  traces  of  excellence,  which  distin 
guishes  him  from  and  elevates  him  above  his  fellow  mortals. 
These  expectations  are  realized  in  a  peculiar  manner,  in 
viewing  the  person  of  General  Washington.  His  tall  and 
noble  stature  and  just  proportions,  his  fine,  cheerful  open 


1779]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  153 

countenance,  simple  and  modest  deportment,  are  all  calcu 
lated  to  interest  every  beholder  in  his  favor,  and  to  com 
mand  veneration  and  respect.  He  is  feared  even  when 
silent,  and  beloved  even  while  we  are  unconscious  of  the 
motive.  ...  In  conversation,  his  Excellency's  expressive 
countenance  is  peculiarly  interesting  and  pleasing ;  a  placid 
smile  is  frequently  observed  on  his  lips,  but  a  loud  laugh,  it 
is  said,  seldom  if  ever  escapes  him.  He  is  polite  and  atten 
tive  to  each  individual  at  table,  and  retires  after  the  com 
pliment  of  a  few  glasses.  Mrs.  Washington  combines  in 
an  uncommon  degree,  great  dignity  of  manner  with  the 
most  pleasing  affability,  but  possesses  no  striking  marks  of 
beauty." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

MONDAY,  MAKCH  8. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  Nothing  of  importance  has  happened 
since  you  left  us,  except  the  Enemy's  invasion  of  Georgia, 
and  possession  of  its  capital  [Savannah].  .  .  .  The  American 
Troops  are  again  in  Hutts ;  but  in  a  more  agreeable  and 
fertile  country,  than  they  were  in  last  winter  at  Valley 
Forge;  and  they  are  better  clad  and  more  healthy,  than 
they  have  ever  been  since  the  formation  of  the  army.  Mrs. 
Washington  is  now  with  me." —  Washington  to  the  Marquis 
de  Lafayette  at  Paris. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Campbell  sailed  from  Sandy  Hook,  on  the  27th  of 
November,  1778,  with  more  than  two  thousand  land  troops,  covered  by  a 
small  squadron  under  Commodore  Parker.  The  fleet  arrived  at  Tybee  Island, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Savannah  Kiver,  on  the  23d  of  December.  Six  days 
afterwards  the  vessels  and  transports  crossed  the  bar,  and  the  troops  were 
landed  at  daybreak  three  miles  below  the  town.  General  Kobert  Howe, 
with  about  six  hundred  Continentals  and  a  few  hundred  militia,  opposed 
their  advance,  but  was  defeated,  and  Savannah  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
British.  An  attempt  was  made  to  recapture  it,  October  9, 1779,  by  the  com 
bined  French  and  American  forces  under  D'Estaing  and  Lincoln,  which 
failed,  and  the  enemy  retained  possession  until  July  11,  1782,  when  it  was 
evacuated. 

MONDAY,  MAECH  15. 
At  Middlebrook :  "  It  gives  me  very  singular  pleasure  to 


154  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1779 

find  that  you  have  again  taken  a  seat  in  Congress.  I  think 
there  never  was  a  time,  when  cool  and  dispassionate  reason 
ing,  strict  attention  and  application,  great  integrity,  and,  if 
it  was  in  the  nature  of  things,  unerring  wisdom,  were  more 
to  be  wished  for,  than  at  the  present." — Washington  to 
Thomas  Nelson. 

"  March  19. — We  had  a  little  dance  at  my  quarters  a  few  evenings  past. 
His  Excellency  and  Mrs.  Greene  danced  upwards  of  three  hours  without 
once  sitting  down." — General  Greene  to  Colonel  Wadsworth. 

General  Greene's  quarters  were  at  the  Van  Yeghten  house,  located  mid 
way  between  Bound  Brook  and  Somerville,  on  the  banks  of  the  Karitan. 

WEDNESDAY,  MARCH  31. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  Speculation,  Peculation,  Engrossing, 
forestalling,  with  all  their  concomitants,  afford  too  many 
melancholy  proofs  of  the  decay  of  public  virtue,  and  too 
glaring  instances  of  its  being  the  interest  and  desire  of  too 
many,  who  would  wish  to  be  thought  friends,  to  continue 
the  war.  Nothing,  I  am  convinced,  but  the  depreciation  of 
our  currency,  proceeding  in  a  great  measure  from  the  fore 
going  causes,  aided  by  stockjobbing  and  party  dissensions, 
has  fed  the  hopes  of  the  Enemy  and  kept  the  British  arms 
in  America  to  this  day.  They  do  not  scruple  to  declare 
this  themselves,  and  add,  that  we  shall  be  our  own  con 
querors." —  Washington  to  James  Warren. 

TUESDAY,  APKIL  13. 

At  Middlebrook :  "April  13th. — We  have  passed  a  winter 
remarkably  mild  and  moderate;  since  the  10th  of  January, 
we  have  scarcely  had  a  fall  of  snow,  or  a  frost,  and  no  severe 
weather." — 1 ^ hacker's  Military  Journal. 

FEIDAY,  APRIL  23. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  Is  there  any  thing  doing,  or  that  can 
be  done,  to  restore  the  credit  of  our  money  ?  The  depreci 
ation  of  it  has  got  to  so  alarming  a  point,  that  a  wagon- 
load  of  money  will  scarcely  purchase  a  wagon-load  of  pro 
visions." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 


1779]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  155 

Continental  paper-money  began  to  depreciate  early  in  1777.  On  the  1st 
of  January  of  that  year  the  value  of  one  hundred  dollars  in  specie  was  one 
hundred  and  five  dollars  in  Continental  money,  and  so  rapid  was  the  depre 
ciation,  that  by  May,  1779,  it  took  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifteen 
dollars  in  paper  to  represent  one  hundred  dollars  in  specie. 

SUNDAY,  MAY  2. 

At  Middlebrook :  "May  2d. — The  whole  of  our  army  in 
this  quarter  was  paraded  in  martial  array  in  a  spacious 
field,  and  a  stage  was  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
ladies  and  gentlemen  spectators.  At  the  signal  of  thirteen 
cannon,  the  great  and  splendid  cavalcade  approached  in 
martial  pomp  and  style.  A  very  beautiful  troop  of  light 
horse,  commanded  by  Major  Lee,  a  Virginian,  marched  in 
front,  then  followed  his  Excellency  the  Commander  in 
Chief  and  his  aids  de  camp,  next  the  foreign  ministers  and 
their  retinue,  and  the  general  officers  of  our  army  and  their 
aids,  closed  the  procession.  Having  arrived  on  the  field  of 
parade,  the  Commander  in  Chief,  with  the  foreign  min 
isters,  and  general  officers,  passed  in  front  of  the  line  of  the 
army,  from  right  to  left,  in  review,  and  received  the  mili 
tary  honors  due  to  their  rank ;  after  which  the  gentlemen 
dismounted  and  retired  to  the  stage,  and  took  seats  with 
Mrs.  Washington,  Mrs.  Greene,  Mrs.  Knox,  and  a  number 
of  other  ladies  who  had  arrived  in  their  carriages.  The 
army  then  performed  the  field  manoeuvres  and  evolutions, 
with  firing  of  cannon  and  musketry." — T hacker's  Military 
Journal. 

This  review  of  the  army  was  held  in  honor  of  M.  Gerard,  the  French 
minister,  and  Don  Juan  Marailles,  a  gentleman  of  distinction  from  Spain, 
who  had  arrived  in  camp  the  day  previous,  the  arrival,  as  recorded  by  Dr- 
Thacher,  having  been  announced  by  thirteen  guns.  M.  Gerard  visited  tho 
camp  in  order  to  consult  with  General  "Washington  respecting  the  opera 
tions  of  Count  D'Estaing's  fleet. 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  5. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  Enclosed  I  have  the  honor  to  trans 
mit  to  your  Excellency  three  New  York  papers.  The  last 


156  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1779 

contains  extracts  from  Lord  North's  speech  at  opening  the 
budget,  which  seems  to  breathe  a  vigorous  prosecution  of 
the  war.  I  have  thought  appearances  for  some  time  past 
wore  this  complexion.  The  English  papers  have  frequently 
announced  considerable  reinforcements  to  the  army  in 
America,  and  have  even  specified  the  particular  corps  in 
tended  to  be  sent  over.  Nor  can  I  see  any  sufficient  reason 
to  believe  this  will  not  be  done." — Washington  to  the  Presi 
dent  of  Congress. 

For  some  interesting  facts  respecting  Lord  North,  and  extracts  from 
letters  written  to  him  by  George  III.  at  different  times,  on  American  affairs, 
see  Sparks,  vi.  531. 

THUKSDAY,  MAY  6. 

At  Middlebrook :  Observed  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humilia 
tion,  and  prayer,  recommended  by  Congress. 

SATUKDAY,  MAY  8. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  The  rapid  decay  of  our  currency,  the 
extinction  of  public  spirit,  the  increasing  rapacity  of  the 
times,  the  want  of  harmony  in  our  councils,  the  declining 
zeal  of  the  people,  the  discontents  and  distresses  of  the 
officers  of  the  army,  and  I  may  add,  the  prevailing  security 
and  insensibility  to  danger,  are  symptoms,  in  my  eye,  of  a 
most  alarming  nature.  If  the  enemy  have  it  in  their  power 
to  press  us  hard  this  campaign,  I  know  not  what  may  be 
the  consequence.  Our  army,  as  it  now  stands,  is  but  little 
more  than  the  skeleton  of  an  army ;  and  I  hear  of  no  steps 
that  are  taking  to  give  it  strength  and  substance." —  Wash 
ington  to  Grouverneur  Morris. 

General  Washington  expressed  himself  in  a  strain  similar  to  the  above, 
in  writing  to  another  friend,  May  18th.  "  I  never  was,  and  much  less 
reason  have  I  now  to  be,  afraid  of  the  enemy's  arms  ;  but  I  have  no  scruple 
in  declaring  to  you,  that  I  have  never  yet  seen  the  time  in  which  our  affairs, 
in  my  opinion,  were  at  so  low  an  ebb  as  at  the  present;  and,  without  a 
speedy  and  capital  change,  we  shall  not  be  able  in  &  very  short  time  to  call 
out  the  strength  and  resources  of  the  country.  The  hour  is  certainly  come, 
when  party  disputes  and  dissensions  should  subside,  when  every  man,  es- 


1779]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  157 

pecially  those  in  office,  should  with  hand  and  heart  pull  the  same  way,  and 
with  their  whole  strength.  Providence  has  done,  and  I  am  persuaded  is 
disposed  to  do,  a  great  deal  for  us ;  but  we  are  not  to  forget  the  fable  of 
Jupiter  and  the  countryman." 

FRIDAY,  MAY  14. 

At  Middlebrook:  "May  14th.— Our  brigade  was  paraded 
for  the  purpose  of  being  reviewed  by  General  Washington 
and  a  number  of  Indian  chiefs.  His  Excellency,  with  his 
usual  dignity,  followed  by  his  mulatto  servant  Bill,  riding  a 
beautiful  grey  steed,  passed  in  front  of  the  line  and  received 
the  salute.  He  was  accompanied  by  a  singular  group  of 
savages,  whose  appearance  was  beyond  description  ludi 
crous." —  Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

TUESDAY,  MAY  18. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  The  obligation  I  felt  for  the  visit, 
which  your  Excellency  did  me  the  honor  to  make  me,  could 
only  be  increased  by  the  manner  in  which  you  are  pleased 
to  mention  the  reception  you  met  with." — Washington  to 
Monsieur  Gerard. 

While  M.  Gerard  was  in  camp,  he  wrote  to  Count  Vergennes,  "  I  have 
had  many  conversations  with  General  Washington,  some  of  which  have 
continued  for  three  hours.  It  is  impossible  for  me  briefly  to  communicate 
the  fund  of  intelligence,  which  I  have  derived  from  him,  but  I  shall  do  it  in 
my  letters  as  occasions  shall  present  themselves.  I  will  now  say  only,  that 
I  have  formed  as  high  an  opinion  of  the  powers  of  his  mind,  his  moderation, 
his  patriotism,  and  his  virtues,  as  I  had  before  from  common  report  con 
ceived  of  his  military  talents  and  of  the  incalculable  services  he  has  rendered 
to  his  country." 

TUESDAY,  MAY  25. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  The  predatory  war,  which  the  enemy 
now  seem  resolved  to  carry  on,  will  be  very  distressing. 
Little  aid  can  be  afforded  from  the  army  in  its  present  situ 
ation,  and  the  militia  appear  too  ill  provided  with  arms  to 
defend  themselves.  How  this  can  be  remedied,  and  the 
army  supplied,  I  know  not." — Washington  to  the  President  of 
Congress. 


158  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.          [1779 

The  British  had  recently  sent  a  detachment  of  several  ships  and  twenty- 
five  hundred  men  into  the  Chesapeake,  destroyed  a  large  number  of  small 
vessels,  sacked  the  town  of  Portsmouth,  burned  Suffolk,  and  carried  on 
board  a  large  quantity  of  tobacco  and  other  plunder,  and  many  negroes. 

MONDAY,  MAY  81. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  The  expedition  you  are  appointed  to 
command  is  to  be  directed  against  the  hostile  tribes  of  the 
Six  Nations  of  Indians,  with  their  associates  and  adherents. 
The  immediate  objects  are  the  total  destruction  and  devasta 
tion  of  their  settlements,  and  the  capture  of  as  many  pris 
oners  of  every  age  and  sex  as  possible.  ...  So  soon  as  your 
preparations  are  in  sufficient  forwardness,  you  will  assemble 
your  main  body  at  Wyoming,  and  proceed  thence  to  Tioga, 
taking  from  that  place  the  most  direct  and  practicable  route 
into  the  heart  of  The  Indian  Settlements." —  Washington  to 
General  John  Sullivan. 

The  atrocities  of  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations  in  the  Wyoming  Valley, 
Pennsylvania,  and  their  continual  raids  upon  the  frontier  settlements  in  New 
York,  made  this  expedition  a  necessity.  General  Sullivan  collected  troops 
at  Wyoming,  and  marched  (July  31)  up  the  Susquehanna  with  about  three 
thousand  soldiers  to  Tioga  Point,  where  he  met  General  James  Clinton,  who 
had  come  from  the  Mohawk  Valley  with  about  sixteen  hundred  men  to  join 
him.  On  the  29th  of  August  they  fell  upon  some  Tories  and  Indians  at 
Chemung  (now  Elmira),  and  then  pushed  onward  to  the  Genesee  Kiver, 
when  the  work  of  destruction  began.  On  October  20,  Washington  wrote  to 
the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  at  Paris,  "  General  Sullivan  has  compleated  the 
entire  destruction  of  the  country  of  the  Six  Nations  ;  driven  all  the  Inhabi 
tants,  men,  women,  and  children,  out  of  it ;  and  is  at  Easton  on  his  return 
to  join  this  army,  with  the  Troops  under  his  command.  He  has  performed 
this  service  without  losing  40  men,  either  by  the  enemy  or  by  sickness. 
While  the  Six  Nations  were  under  this  rod  of  correction,  the  Mingo  and 
Muncy  tribes,  living  on  the  Aligany,  French  Creek,  and  other  waters  of  the 
Ohio  above  Fort  Pitt,  met  with  similar  chastisemt.  from  Colo.  Brodhead, 
who  with  600  men  advanced  upon  them  at  the  same  Instt,,  and  laid  waste 
their  Country." 

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  2. 

At  Middlebrook :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  "  Ministers,  Elders,  and  Deacons  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church  at  Raritan." 


1779]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  159 

THURSDAY,  JUNE  3. 

At  Middlebrook :  "  I  expect  to  set  out  this  day  towards 
the  Highlands,  by  way  of  Morris  Town." — Washington  to 
the  President  of  Congress. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  6. 

At  Bingwood,  New  Jersey:  "On  the  1st  instant  in  the 
morning,  the  Enemy  opened  a  Battery  at  Stony  Point,  which 
lies  on  the  West  side  of  the  Hudson  at  the  landing  at  King's 
Ferry,  against  a  small  detached  work  at  Verplanck's  Point, 
on  the  East  side,  and  kept  up  a  constant  fire  upon  it,  in  con 
junction  with  their  Ships,  till  four  in  the  afternoon,  when 
the  party  stationed  in  it,  finding  that  it  was  also  invested  on 
the  land  side  in  force,  surrendered  by  capitulation." — Wash 
ington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

Ringwood,  known  in  the  Revolutionary  period  as  Ringwood  Iron- Works, 
is  a  village  in  Passaic  County,  New  Jersey,  thirty  miles  northeast  of  Mor- 
ristown  and  close  to  the  New  York  line. 

MONDAY,  JUNE  7. 

At  Smith's  Tavern  in  the  Clove :  Orderly  Book.—"  The 
army  is  to  encamp  till  further  orders." 

"June  10th. — Smith's  Clove  [Orange  County,  New  York]  is  a  fine  level 
plain  of  rich  land,  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  high  mountains  on  the  west 
side  of  Hudson  river.  It  is  about  fourteen  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  garrison 
at  West  Point,  and  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  the  high  lands.  The  few 
families  who  reside  here  find  a  profitable  employment  in  cultivating  the 
fertile  soil.  Our  brigade  marched  from  quarters  at  Middlebrook  on  the  2d 
instant,  and  arrived  at  Morristown,  where  we  received  orders  to  leave  all 
our  heavy  baggage,  and  proceed  with  all  possible  expedition,  as  the  enemy 
was  advancing  towards  West  Point.  Marched  rapidly  through  Troy, 
Pompton  and  Ringwood,  and  on  the  7th  instant,  encamped  in  the  Clove." 
— Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

FRIDAY,  JUNE  11. 

At  Smith's  Tavern  :  "  "We  have  taken  post  for  the  present 
with  the  main  body  of  the  army  in  this  Clove,  where  we  are 
as  well  situated,  as  we  could  be  anywhere  else,  to  succor  the 


160  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1779 

forts  [on  the  Hudson]  in  case  the  future  operations  of  the 
enemy  should  be  directed  against  them." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

Smith's  Tavern  was  at  the  upper  end  of  the  Clove.  Its  location  is  given 
in  the  copy  of  a  contemporary  map,  published  in  Lossing's  "  Life  of  Wash 
ington,"  vol.  ii.  543. 

MONDAY,  JUNE  14. 

At  Smith's  Tavern :  Orderly  Book. — "  As  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  sits  out  to-Day  for  "West  Point,  and  may  be  absent 
two  or  three  Days,  Major  Gen1  Putnam  will  take  the  Com 
mand  of  the  troops  in  this  Camp  till  his  return." 

Washington  remained  in  the  Clove  until  the  afternoon  of  June  21,  when 
he  set  out  for  New  Windsor,  on  the  Hudson,  six  miles  above  West  Point. 
Here  he  "  established  his  head-quarters  in  the  William  Ellison  house  on  the 
hill  immediately  south  of  the  village.  The  house  was  removed  many  years 
ago."*  On  the  22d,  Washington  visited  West  Point,  and  on  the  24th  he 
was  present  at  the  celebration  of  the  festival  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  by  the 
"American  Union  Lodge  of  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,"  at  the 
"Kobinson  House,"  a  little  below  West  Point,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  27. 

At  New  Windsor,  New  York :  "  Tour  letter  of  yesterday 
came  safe  to  my  hands,  and  by  the  Dragoon,  who  was  the 
bearer  of  it,  I  send  you  two  guineas  for  C r." — Wash 
ington  to  Major  Tallmadge. 

General  Washington  always  had  spies  in  New  York.     C r,  referred  to 

in  this  letter,  called  in  a  later  one  Culper,  had  acted  for  a  long  time  in  that 
capacity.  His  intelligence  was  of  great  importance. 

SUNDAY,  JULY  4. 

At  New  "Windsor :  Orderly  Book. — "  This  day  being  the 
anniversary  of  our  glorious  independence,  will  be  com 
memorated  by  the  firing  of  thirteen  cannon  from  West 
Point  at  1  o'clock  P.M.  The  Commander-in-Chief  thinks 

*  Ruttenber's  "History  of  Orange  County,"  p.  143. 


1779]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  161 

proper  to  grant  a  general  pardon  to  all  prisoners  in  this 
army,  under  sentence  of  death.  They  are  to  be  released 
from  confinement  accordingly." 

Washington  left  head-quarters  in  the  morning  of  July  6,  to  visit  the  out 
posts  below,  and  those  which  had  been  established  by  the  enemy.  He  re 
turned  in  the  afternoon  of  the  7th. 

FKIDAY,  JULY  9. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  While  the  enemy  are  making  ex 
cursions  to  distress  the  country,  it  has  a  very  disagreeable 
aspect  to  remain  in  a  state  of  inactivity  on  our  part.  The 
reputation  of  the  army,  and  the  good  of  the  service,  seem 
to  exact  some  attempt  from  it.  The  importance  of  Stony 
Point  to  the  enemy  makes  it  infinitely  desirable,  that  this 
post  could  be  the  object.  The  works  are  formidable,  but 
perhaps  on  a  fuller  examination  they  may  be  found  accessi 
ble.  ...  I  beg  you  to  inform  yourself  all  you  can,  and  to 
give  me  your  opinion  of  the  practicability  of  an  attempt 
upon  this  post.  If  it  is  undertaken,  I  should  conceive  it 
ought  to  be  done  by  way  of  surprise  in  the  night." —  Wash 
ington  to  General  Wayne. 

SATUKDAY,  JULY  10. 

At  New  Windsor :  "I  have  received  your  favors  from 
Luddington's  and  Reading.  It  gives  me  great  concern  to 
hear  of  the  ravages  of  the  enemy.  The  conduct  of  the 
militia  at  New  Haven  does  them  the  highest  honor." — 
Washington  to  General  Parsons. 

The  British,  under  General  Tryon  and  General  Garth,  landed  near  New 
Haven  on  the  5th  of  July,  and  the  next  day  entered  the  town,  plundered  it, 
and  burned  the  public  stores.  In  approaching  the  town  they  were  bravely 
met  by  the  militia,  of  whom  twenty-seven  were  killed  and  nineteen  wounded. 

SUNDAY,  JULY  11. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  I  request,  that  you  will  endeavour, 
as  far  as  opportunity  will  permit,  to  ascertain  as  precisely 
as  you  can  what  number  of  houses  they  [the  enemy]  have 

12 


162  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON,         [1779 

destroyed  in  their  expedition  up  the  Sound." —  Washington 
to  General  Parsons. 

According  to  General  Parsons'  returns  in  compliance  with  the  above 
request,  the  enemy  burnt  in  Fairfield,  on  the  9th  of  July,  ninety-seven 
dwelling-houses,  sixty-seven  barns,  forty-eight  stores,  two  meeting-houses, 
a  church,  court-house,  jail,  and  two  school-houses.  In  Norwalk,  they  burnt, 
on  the  llth  of  July,  one  hundred  and  thirty  dwelling-houses,  eighty-seven 
barns,  twenty-two  stores,  seventeen  shops,  four  mills,  one  church,  one  meet 
ing-house.  At  New  Haven  the  whole  loss  amounted  to  $112,647;  at  Fair- 
field,  $181,366  ;  at  Norwalk,  $166,868;  at  Greenwich,  $29,935. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  14. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  I  have  reflected  on  the  advantages 
and  disadvantages  of  delaying  the  proposed  attempt  [on 
Stony  Point],  and  I  do  not  know  but  the  latter  preponder 
ate.  You  will  therefore  carry  it  into  execution  to-morrow 
night,  as  you  desire,  unless  some  new  motive  or  better  in 
formation  should  induce  you  to  think  it  best  to  defer  it. 
You  are  at  liberty  to  choose  between  the  different  plans  on 
which  we  have  conversed." —  Washington  to  General  Wayne. 

THURSDAY,  JULY  15. 

At  Fort  Montgomery :  "  This  day  General  Wayne  marched 
down  towards  Stony  Point,  to  take  a  view  of  the  enemy, 
and,  if  an  opportunity  offers,  to  attempt  something  serious. 
I  therefore  wish  you  to  put  your  brigade  in  motion  about 
midnight,  and  march  that  way  in  order  to  act  as  his  situa 
tion  may  make  it  necessary." —  Washington  to  General  Muh- 
lenberg. 

" July. — To  Expences  in  Recon«  the  Enemy's  Post  at  Stony  Point  previ 
ous  to  the  assault  of  it,  &  on  a  visit  to  it  after  it  was  taken  .  .  £10.10." — 
Washington's  Accounts. 

FRIDAY,  JULY  16. 

At  New  Windsor :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander-in- 
Chief  is  happy  to  congratulate  the  army  on  the  success  of 
our  arms  under  Brig.  Gen.  Wayne,  who  last  night,  with  the 
corps  of  light  infantry,  surprised  and  took  the  enemy's  post 


1779]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  160 

at  Stony  Point,  with  the  whole  garrison,  cannon  and  stores, 
with  very  inconsiderable  loss  on  our  side." 

"Stony  Point  16th  July  1779  2  o'clock  A.M.  Dear  Gen1— The  fort  &  Gar 
rison  with  Col°  Johnston  are  ours.  Our  Officers  &  men  behaved  like  men 
who  are  determined  to  be  free. — Yours  most  sincerely, 

"ANT'Y  WAYNE." 

TUESDAY,  JULY  20. 

At  N"ew  Windsor :  "  They  [the  enemy]  have  now  brought 
their  whole  force  up  the  river,  and  yesterday  they  landed  a 
body  at  Stony  Point." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Con 
gress. 

It  having  been  found  that  the  maintenance  of  Stony  Point  would  require 
a  large  body  of  men,  and  from  the  nature  of  the  works,  which  had  been 
constructed  solely  against  an  attack  by  land,  it  was  decided  to  destroy  them, 
remove  the  cannon  and  stores,  and  evacuate  the  post.  This  was  accordingly 
done  on  the  night  of  July  18. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  21. 

At  West  Point :  Washington  made  West  Point  his  head 
quarters  on  the  21st  of  July,  and  remained  there  till  Novem 
ber  28,  when  the  army  went  into  winter-quarters.  It  was 
during  this  period  that  the  strong  works  at  this  fortress  and 
its  vicinity  were  chiefly  constructed. 

The  house  occupied  by  Washington  as  head-quarters  was  situated  in  what 
is  now  called  Washington's  Valley,  about  a  mile  to  the  north  of  West  Point. 
It  was  designated  in  general  orders  as  "  Moore's  House,"  and  was  built  prior 
to  1749  by  John  Moore,  a  prominent  merchant  of  New  York,  and  grand 
father  of  the  celebrated  Bishop  of  Virginia,  Richard  Channing  Moore.  The 
house  must  have  been  a  large  and  costly  structure,  being  known  in  its  day  as 
"  Moore's  Folly,"  and  is  so  marked  on  a  plan  of  "Hudson's- River  from  New- 
York  to  Albany,"  included  in  Blodget's  "  Prospective  Plan  of  the  Battle 
fought  near  LAKE  GEORGE  on  the  8th  of  September  1755,"  published  at 
Boston  in  December  of  that  year.  The  property,  containing  about  eighteen 
hundred  acres,  which  included  West  Point,  was  sold  to  the  United  States, 
in  1790,  by  Stephen  Moore,  a  son  of  John  Moore. 

THURSDAY,  JULY  29. 

At  West  Point :  "  I  have  a  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the 
receipt  of  your  obliging  favor  of  the  15th  inst,  and  in  find- 


164  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1779 

ing  by  it,  that  the  author  of  the  Queries,  '  Political  and  Mili 
tary'  *  has  had  no  great  cause  to  exult  in  the  favorable 
reception  of  them  by  the  public.  "Without  a  clue,  I  should 
have  been  at  no  great  loss  to  trace  the  malevolent  writer." 

—  Washington  to  Joseph  Seed. 

"  Many  and  pointed  orders  have  been  issued  against  the  unmeaning  and 
abominable  custom  of  swearing ;  notwithstanding  which,  with  much  regret, 
the  General  observes  that  it  prevails,  if  possible,  more  than  ever.  His  feel 
ings  are  continually  wounded  by  the  oaths  and  imprecations  of  the  soldiers 
whenever  he  is  in  hearing  of  them.  The  name  of  that  Being  from  whose 
bountiful  goodness  we  are  permitted  to  exist  and  enjoy  the  comforts  of  life, 
is  incessantly  imprecated  and  profaned  in  a  manner  as  wanton  as  it  is  shock 
ing.  For  the  sake  therefore  of  religion,  decency,  and  order,  the  General 
hopes  and  trusts  that  officers  of  every  rank  will  use  their  influence  and 
authority  to  check  a  vice  which  is  as  unprofitable  as  it  is  wicked  and  shame 
ful.  If  officers  would  make  it  an  invariable  rule  to  reprimand,  and  if  that 
does  not  do,  punish  soldiers  for  offences  of  this  kind,  it  could  not  fail  of 
having  the  desired  effect." — Orderly  Book,  July  29. 

FKIDAY,  JULY  30. 

At  West  Point :  "  Lord  Cornwallis  is  undoubtedly  arrived 
[from  England]  and  I  have  information,  which  bears  all  the 
marks  of  authenticity,  that  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  with  the 
grand  fleet,  left  Torbay  the  26th  of  May,  as  it  is  said,  with 
seven  thousand  troops,  Hessians  and  British,  for  America." 

—  Washington  to  General  Wayne. 

Lord  Cornwallis  went  to  England  in  December,  1778,  on  account  of  the 
severe  illness  of  his  wife,  who  died  soon  afterward. 

SUNDAY,  AUGUST  1. 

At  West  Point :  "  From  what  causes  it  proceeds  I  shall 

*  These  "  Queries"  were  written  by  General  Charles  Lee,  and  printed 
anonymously  in  the  Maryland  Journal,  a  paper  published  by  William  God- 
dard,  a  friend  of  General  Lee.  The  "  Queries"  were  penned  in  a  very 
malignant  spirit,  and  were  designed  to  injure  General  Washington,  as  far  as 
it  could  be  done  by  such  an  effusion  of  spleen  and  ill  temper.  Much  indig 
nation  was  expressed  against  Goddard  when  the  "  Queries"  appeared  in  his 
paper. 


1779]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.  165 

not  undertake  to  say,  but  so  the  fact  is,  that  we  are  laboring 
under  the  effects  of  two  of  the  greatest  evils,  that  can  befall 
a  state  of  war,  namely,  a  reduced  army  at  the  beginning  of 
a  campaign,  which  more  than  probably  is  intended  for  a 
decisive  one,  and  want  of  money,  or  rather  a  redundancy  of 
it,  by  which  it  is  become  of  no  value." — Washington  to  Ed 
mund  Randolph. 

MONDAY,  AUGUST  23. 

At  West  Point :  "  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  to  your 
Excellency  Major  Lee's  report  of  the  surprise  &  capture 
[August  19]  of  the  garrison  of  Powles  Hook  [Jersey  City]. 
The  Major  displayed  a  remarkable  degree  of  prudence, 
address,  enterprise,  and  bravery,  upon  this  occasion,  which 
does  the  highest  honor  to  himself  and  to  all  the  officers  and 
men  under  his  command." —  Washington  to  the  President  of 
Congress. 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  12. 

At  West  Point :  "  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  with  about  3  or 
4000  troops,  is  arrived  at  New  York  [August  25],  and  will, 
it  is  to  be  presumed,  afford  Sir  Henry  Clinton  an  opportunity 
of  displaying  his  intentions  or  orders.  I  every  moment  look 
for  the  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne  on  his  way  from  Boston  to 
Congress." — Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  at  Paris. 

THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  30. 

At  West  Point :  "  I  have  had  great  pleasure  in  the  visit, 
which  the  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne  and  Monsieur  Marbois 
did  me  the  honor  to  make  at  this  camp ;  for  both  of  whom 
I  have  imbibed  the  most  favorable  impressions,  and  I  thank 
you  for  the  honorable  mention  you  made  of  me  to  them. 
.  .  .  The  operations  of  the  enemy  this  campaign  have  been 
confined  to  the  establishment  of  works  of  defence,  taking  a 
post  at  King's  Ferry,  and  burning  the  defenceless  towns  of 
New  Haven,  Fairfield,  and  Norwalk,  on  the  Sound  within 
reach  of  their  shipping,  where  little  else  was  or  could  be 


166  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1779 

opposed  to  them,  than  the  cries  of  distressed  women  and 
helpless  children;  but  these  were  offered  in  vain." — Wash 
ington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  at  Paris. 

The  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne  succeeded  M.  Gerard  as  minister  from 
France  to  the  United  States.  He  came  to  America  in  the  same  vessel  ("  La 
Sensible")  with  John  Adams,  when  the  latter  returned  from  his  first  mission 
to  France,  landing  at  Boston,  August  2,  1779.  The  visit  to  Washington  at 
West  Point  was  made  in  a  private  capacity,  when  on  his  way  to  Philadelphia 
to  exhibit  his  credentials  to  Congress.  During  the  four  years  in  which  he 
acted  as  minister,  M.  de  la  Luzerne  "  conducted  himself  with  a  prudence, 
wisdom,  and  concern  for  their  interests,  that  gained  him  the  esteem  and 
affection  of  the  Americans."  M.  Marbois,  who  accompanied  him  as  secre 
tary  of  legation,  remained  in  this  country  until  1785,  and  after  the  return 
of  Luzerne  acted  as  charge  d'affaires.  In  1808  he  was  appointed  to  cede 
Louisiana  to  the  United  States  for  fifty  million  francs,  but  had  the  skill  to 
obtain  eighty  millions,  a  piece  of  diplomacy  for  which  he  was  liberally  re- 
Warded  by  Napoleon. 

SATUKDAY,  OCTOBER  2. 

At  "West  Point :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  following  are  the 
Uniforms  that  have  been  determined  for  the  troops  of  these 
States  respectively  as  soon  as  the  state  of  the  public  supplies 
will  permit  their  being  furnished  accordingly,  and  in  the 
meantime  it  is  recommended  to  the  Officers  to  endeavor  to 
accommodate  their  Uniforms  to  this  Standard,  that  when 
the  men  come  to  be  supplied  there  may  be  a  proper  uni 
formity. 

"  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut 
— Blue  faced  with  White,  Buttons  and  Lining  White. 

"  New  York,  New  Jersey — Blue  faced  with  Buff,  White 
Lining  and  Buttons. 

"  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia — Blue  faced 
with  Red,  Buttons  and  Linings  WTiite. 

"  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Georgia — Blue  faced  with 
Blue,  Button-holes  edged  with  narrow  white  lace  or  tape, 
Buttons  and  Linings  White. 

"  Artillery  and  Artillery  Artificers — Blue  faced  with  Scarlet ; 
Scarlet  Lining,  Yellow  buttons,  Yellow  bound  hats,  Coats 


1779]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  167 

edged  with  narrow  lace  or  tape  &  button-holes  bound  with 
the  same. 

"Light  Dragoons — The  whole  Blue  faced  with  White, 
"White  buttons  and  linings." 

THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  7. 

At  West  Point :  "  Permit  me,  amongst  the  number  of 
your  friends,  to  congratulate  you  and  my  country  on  your 
late  honorable  and  important  appointment," — Washington  to 
John  Jay. 

Mr.  Jay  was  appointed,  on  the  27th  of  September,  minister  plenipoten 
tiary  to  Spain,  to  negotiate  treaties  of  amity  and  commerce,  and  to  obtain 
loans  or  subsidies.  He  sailed  from  Chester,  below  Philadelphia,  October  26, 
but,  being  driven  to  the  West  Indies  by  a  storm,  did  not  roach  Cadiz  until 
January  22,  1780.  Spain,  not  having  acknowledged  the  independence  of 
the  United  States,  at  first  refused  to  receive  him  as  an  American  minister, 
and  he  was  for  some  time  engaged  with  Count  Florida  Blanca,  the  Spanish 
premier,  in  informal  negotiations.  After  many  months  of  fruitless  labor, 
Mr.  Jay,  having  been  appointed  a  commissioner,  proceeded  to  Paris  (June, 
1782),  and,  with  Adams,  Franklin,  and  Laurens,  signed  the  preliminary 
articles  of  peace  between  ^the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  November 
80,  1782. 

THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  21. 

At  West  Point :  "  In  a  letter  of  the  15th  instant  from 
General  Gates,  he  writes  to  me, '  My  intelligence  from  all 
quarters  and  reports  from  all  stations,  announce  that  the 
enemy  are  preparing  to  evacuate  Newport,  Monday  or 
Tuesday  it  is  imagined  they  will  take  their  departure.' " 
—  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress, 

The  evacuation  of  Newport  took  place  on  the  25th  of  October.  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  wrote  to  Lord  George  Germain  that  the  troopa  from  Rhode 
Island  arrived  on  the  27th,  the  evacuation  having  been  executed  without 
sacrifice  or  molestation  from  the  enemy, 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER  1. 

At  West  Point :  "  Stony  Point,  which  has  been  a  bone 
of  contention  the  whole  campaign,  and  the  principal  busi- 


168  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON,         [1779 

ness  of  it  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  is  totally  evacuated  by 
them.  Rhode  Island  is  also  abandoned,  and  the  enemy's 
whole  force  is  drawn  to  a  point  at  New  York." —  Washington 
to  Edmund  Pendleton. 

Stony  Point  and  Verplanck's  Point  had  been  at  first  taken  by  the  British 
with  a  view  to  offensive  operations  against  Washington's  army.  When 
such  a  movement  was  found  impracticable,  and  a  Southern  expedition  was 
resolved  upon,  it  was  determined  to  evacuate  these  posts. 

THUKSDAY,  NOVEMBER  11. 

At  "West  Point:  "Being  absent  from  Head-Qrs.  on  a 
visit  to  several  out-posts  of  the  army,  when  your  favor  of 
the  2d  instant  arrived,  and  not  returning  till  last  night,  it 
was  not  in  my  power  to  answer  it  before." —  Washington  to 
General  Duportail. 

TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  16. 

At  "West  Point :  "  Whereas  by  the  sudden  movement  of 
the  Army  to  winter  quarters  it  will  be  difficult  to  procure 
the  necessary  supplies  of  Forage,  which  by  your  represen 
tation  cannot  be  furnished  unless  you  are  authorized  to 
impress  the  same,  therefore  you  are  hereby  authorized 
where  Forage  &  pasture  cannot  otherwise  be  procured,  by 
yourself  or  Assistants  &  Forage  masters  to  impress  the  neces 
sary  Forage  for  the  Army  on  the  march  of  the  Army  through 
the  State  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey  to  their  winter  Sta 
tions,  when  this  warrant  is  to  cease,  and  you  are  to  pay  par 
ticular  attention  to  have  the  Inhabitants  satisfied  for  their 
Forage  &  to  take  as  equaly  as  possible  from  each  according 
to  what  can  be  spared." — Washington  to  Clement  Biddle, 
Commissary- General  of  Forage,  MS.  Letter. 

WEDNESDAY,  NOVEMBER  24. 

At  West  Point :  "  I  am  now  using  my  best  endeavours  to 
get  things  in  train  for  putting  the  army  in  quarters.  The 
instant  matters  will  permit,  I  shall  go  forward  myself." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 


1779]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  169 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER  29. 

At  Peekskill,  New  York :  "  I  am  now  thus  far  on  my 
way  to  Jersey,  and  I  shall  put  the  Virginia  Troops  in  motion, 
as  soon  as  it  can  be  done,  for  Philadelphia." — Washington  to 
the  President  of  Congress. 

"November  30. — Early  in  the  morning  Gen.  Washington  crossed  the 
Hudson  at  King's  Ferry,  into  the  Jersies." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  7. 

At  Morristown,  New  Jersey :  "  We  have  taken  up  our 
quarters  at  this  place  for  the  winter.  The  main  army  lies 
within  three  or  four  miles  of  the  town." — Washington  to 
Governor  Livingston. 

Washington's  head-quarters  at  Morristown  (where  he  arrived  December 
1)  were  at  the  residence  of  the  widow  of  Colonel  Jacob  Ford,  who  had  com 
manded  a  regiment  of  Morris  County  militia  during  the  retreat  through 
New  Jersey  in  1776.  The  house,  which  is  still  standing,  is  situated  on 
Morris  Avenue  (formerly  the  Newark  and  Morristown  turnpike),  about 
half  a  mile  northeast  of  the  public  square.  It  is  now  in  possession  of  the 
"  Washington  Association  of  New  Jersey,"  incorporated  March  20,  1874, 
for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  it  "through  future  generations  sacred  with 
its  peculiar  historic  associations." 

THURSDAY,  DECEMBER  16. 

At  Morristown :  "  The  situation  of  the  Army  with  respect 
to  supplies,  is  beyond  description,  alarming.  It  has  been 
five  or  six  weeks  past  on  half-allowance,  and  we  have  not 
more  than  three  days  bread  at  a  third  allowance,  on  hand, 
nor  any  where  within  reach.  When  this  is  exhausted,  we 
must  depend  on  the  precarious  gleanings  of  the  neighbor 
ing  country.  Our  magazines  are  absolutely  empty  every 
where,  and  our  commissaries  entirely  destitute  of  money  or 
credit  to  replenish  them.  We  have  never  experienced  a 
like  extremity  at  any  period  of  the  war.  We  have  often 
felt  temporary  want  from  accidental  delays  in  forwarding 
supplies,  but  we  always  had  something  in  our  magazines, 
and  the  means  of  procuring  more.  Neither  one  nor  the 


170  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1779 

other  is,  at  present,  the  case.  This  representation  is  the 
result  of  a  minute  examination  of  our  resources." —  Wash 
ington  to  Joseph  Heed. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  27. 

At  Morristown :  Present  at  the  celebration  of  the  festival 
of  St.  John  the  Evangelist  by  the  "  American  Union  Lodge 
of  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons." 

"  In  the  Morris  Hotel,  a  building  then  used  as  a  commissary's  store 
house,  the  chief  often  participated  in  the  rites  of  Free-masonry,  in  a  room 
over  the  bar,  which  was  reserved  for  a  ball-room  and  for  the  meetings  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge." — Lossing'a  Field-Book^  i.  807. 


1780. 


SATURDAY,  JANUARY  8. 

At  Morristown :  "  The  present  situation  of  the  army  with 
respect  to  provisions,  is  the  most  distressing  of  any  we  have 
experienced  since  the  beginning  of  the  war.  For  a  fort 
night  past  the  troops,  both  officers  and  men,  have  been 
almost  perishing  for  want.  They  have  been  alternately 
without  bread  or  meat  the  whole  time,  with  a  very  scanty 
allowance  of  either  and  frequently  destitute  of  both." — 
Washington  to  the  Magistrates  of  New  Jersey. 

"January,  1780. — The  weather  for  several  days  has  been  remarkably  cold 
and  stormy.  On  the  3d  instant,  we  experienced  one  of  the  most  tremendous 
snow-storms  ever  remembered ;  no  man  could  endure  its  violence  many 
minutes  without  danger  of  his  life.  Several  marquees  were  torn  asunder 
and  blown  down  over  the  officers'  heads  in  the  night,  and  some  of  the  sol 
diers  were  actually  covered  while  in  their  tents,  and  buried  like  sheep  under 
the  snow.  .  .  .  The  snow  is  now  from  four  to  six  feet  deep,  which  so  ob 
structs  the  roads  as  to  prevent  our  receiving  a  supply  of  provisions.  For 
the  last  ten  days  we  have  received  but  two  pounds  of  meat  a  man,  and  we 
are  frequently  for  six  or  eight  days  entirely  destitute  of  meat,  and  then  as 
long  without  bread.  The  consequence  is,  the  soldiers  are  so  enfeebled  from 
hunger  and  cold,  as  to  be  almost  unable  to  perform  their  military  duty,  or 
labor  in  constructing  their  huts." — Thacker's  Military  Journal. 

SUNDAY,  JANUARY  9. 

At  Morristown :  "  Circumstanced  as  things  are — men 
half-starved — imperfectly  cloathed — riotous — and  robbing 
the  Country  people  of  their  subsistence  from  shear  necessity 
I  think  it  scarcely  possible  to  embrace  any  moment  how 
ever  favourable  in  other  respects  for  visiting  the  enemy  on 
Staten  Island,  and  yet  if  this  frost  should  have  made  a  firm 
and  solid  bridge  between  them  and  us  I  should  be  unwilling 

171 


172  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1780 

— indeed  I  cannot  relinquish  the  idea  of  attempting  it." — 
Washington  to  General  Irvine. 

MONDAY,  JANUARY  10. 

At  Morristown :  "  I  have  determined  in  case  the  present 
condition  of  the  Ice  and  prospect  of  its  continuance  will 
warrant  the  enterprise,  to  make  an  attempt  upon  the  ene 
my's  quarters  and  posts  on  Staten  Island." — Washington  to 
General  Irvine,  MS.  Letter. 

WEDNESDAY,  JANUAKY  12. 

At  Morristown :  "  Friday  Evening  is  determined  upon  for 
the  execution  of  the  intended  enterprise,  unless  prevented  by 
the  intervention  of  Weather  or  some  unforeseen  accident." 
—  Washington  to  General  Irvine. 

"January  17th. — A  detachment  consisting  of  about  two  thousand  five 
hundred  men,  under  the  command  of  Major-General  Lord  Stirling,  was  a 
few  days  since  sent  off  in  about  five  hundred  sleighs  on  a  secret  expedition. 
The  sleighs  were  procured  and  preparations  made,  under  the  pretence  of 
going  into  the  country  after  provisions.  It  is  now  ascertained  that  the 
object  of  the  expedition  was  to  attack  the  enemy  in  their  works  on  Staten 
Island  by  surprize.  Our  party  passed  over  on  the  ice  from  Elizabethtown 
in  the  night  (January  14),  but  the  enemy  having  received  intelligence  of 
their  design,  retired  into  their  strong  works  for  safety,  and  the  object  of  the 
enterprize  was  unfortunately  defeated  ;  they,  however,  brought  off  a  quantity 
of  blankets  and  stores.  The  snow  was  three  or  four  feet  deep,  and  the 
weather  extremely  cold,  and  our  troops  continued  on  the  island  twenty-four 
hours  without  covering,  and  about  five  hundred  were  slightly  frozen  and 
six  were  killed  by  a  party  of  horse,  who  pursued  our  rear  guard.  A  num 
ber  of  tents,  arms,  and  a  quantity  of  baggage,  with  several  casks  of  wine 
and  spirits,  were  brought  off,  with  seventeen  prisoners." — Thacher's  Mili 
tary  Journal. 

SATURDAY,  JANUARY  22. 

At  Morristown :  "  I  have  been  at  my  prest.  quarters  since 
the  1st  day  of  Deer,  and  have  not  a  Kitchen  to  cook  a 
Dinner  in,  altho'  the  Logs  have  been  put  together  some  con 
siderable  time  by  my  own  Guard.  Nor  is  there  a  place  at 
this  moment  in  which  a  servant  can  lodge,  with  the  smallest 


1780]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  173 

degree  of  comfort.  Eighteen  belonging  to  my  family,  and 
all  Mrs.  Ford's,  are  crowded  together  in  her  Kitchen,  and 
scarce  one  of  them  able  to  speak  for  the  colds  they  have 
caught." —  Washington  to  General  Greene. 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  27. 

At  Morristown :  "  You  will  be  pleased  to  repair  to  our 
lines  and  investigate  the  causes  of  the  late  misfortune  and 
disgrace  at  Elizabeth  Town,  arid  report  your  opinion  there 
upon,  as  soon  as  inquiry  is  made." —  Washington  to  General 
St.  Glair. 

A  detachment  of  British  troops  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bush- 
kirk,  crossed  over  from  Staten  Island  at  Trembly's  Point,  and  entered  Eliza- 
bethtown  between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  in  the  night  of  the  25th  of 
January.  It  consisted  of  one  hundred  dragoons,  and  between  three  and 
four  hundred  infantry.  They  took  several  prisoners,  burnt  the  meeting 
house,  town-house,  and  another  building,  plundered  some  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  retired  without  loss. 

SATURDAY,  JANUARY  29. 

At  Morristown  :  "  With  respect  to  provision,  the  situation 
of  the  army  is  comfortable  at  present  on  this  head,  and  I 
ardently  pray,  that  it  may  never  be  again  as  it  has  been  of 
late.  "We  were  reduced  to  a  most  painful  and  delicate  ex 
tremity  ;  such  as  rendered  the  keeping  of  the  troops  together 
a  point  of  great  doubt.  The  exertions  of  the  magistrates 
and  inhabitants  of  this  State  were  great  and  cheerful  for 
our  relief." — Washington  to  Elbridge  Gerry. 

FRIDAY,  FEBRUARY  4. 

At  Morristown :  "  I  thank  your  Excellency  for  the  agree 
able  intelligence  you  gave  me  of  his  Most  Christian  Majesty's 
intentions  to  send  over  succors  of  arms  and  ammunition. 
It  is  a  new  and  valuable  proof  of  his  friendship,  and  will 
be  of  essential  utility." — Washington  to  the  Chevalier  de  la 
Luzerne. 

"February  14th. — Having  continued  to  this  late  season  in  our  tents,  ex 
periencing  the  greatest  inconvenience,  we  have  now  the  satisfaction  of  taking 


174  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1780 

possession  of  the  log  huts,  just  completed  by  our  soldiers,  where  we  shall 
have  more  comfortable  accommodations." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

TUESDAY,  FEBRUARY  15. 

At  Morristown  :  "  I  am  much  indebted  to  your  Excellency 
for  announcing  my  election  as  a  member  of  the  [American] 
Philosophical  Society.  I  feel  myself  particularly  honored 
by  this  relation  to  a  society,  whose  successful  efforts  for  pro 
moting  useful  knowledge  have  already  justly  acquired  for 
them  the  highest  reputation  in  the  literary  world." —  Wash 
ington  to  Joseph  Heed. 

TUESDAY,  FEBRUARY  29. 

At  Morristown :  "  We  have  opened  an  assembly  at  Camp. 
From  this  apparent  ease,  I  suppose  it  is  thought  we  must  be 
in  happy  circumstances.  I  wish  it  was  so,  but,  alas,  it  is  not. 
Our  provisions  are  in  a  manner,  gone.  We  have  not  a  ton 
of  hay  at  command,  nor  magazine  to  draw  from.  Money  is 
extremely  scarce,  and  worth  little  when  we  get  it.  We  have 
been  so  poor  in  camp  for  a  fortnight,  that  we  could  not  for 
ward  the  public  despatches,  for  want  of  cash  to  support  the 
expresses." — General  Greene  to  Joseph  Heed. 

An  engraved  fac-simile  of  the  original  subscription  paper  for  these  as 
semblies  will  be  found  in  Smith  and  Watson's  "Historical  and  Literary 
Curiosities,"  published  at  Philadelphia  in  1847.  It  is  as  follows  :  "  The  Sub 
scribers  agree  to  pay  the  sums  annexed  to  their  respective  Names,  and  an 
equal  quota  of  any  further  Expence  which  may  be  incurred  in  the  promo 
tion  and  support  of  a  dancing  assembly  to  be  held  in  Morristown  this 
present  Winter  1780.  Subscription  Monies  to  be  paid  into  the  hands  of  a 
Treasurer,  hereafter  to  be  appointed."  The  subscribers,  thirty-five  in  num 
ber,  include  Washington,  whose  name  heads  the  list,  and  opposite  to  each 
name  is  set  the  amount  of  subscription,  four  hundred  dollars,  about  eleven 
dollars  in  specie. 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  18. 

At  Morristown :  "  The  oldest  people  now  living  in  this 
country  do  not  remember  so  hard  a  winter  as  the  one  we 
are  now  emerging  from.  In  a  word,  the  severity  of  the 


1780]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  175 

frost  exceeded  anything  of  the  kind  that  had  ever  been  ex 
perienced  in  this  climate  before." —  Washington  to  the  Marquis 
de  Lafayette,  at  Paris. 

"  March,  1780. — The  present  winter  is  the  most  severe  and  distressing, 
which  we  have  ever  experienced.  An  immense  body  of  snow  remains  on 
the  ground.  Our  soldiers  are  in  a  wretched  condition  for  the  want  of 
clothes,  blankets  and  shoes ;  and  these  calamitous  circumstances  are  accom 
panied  by  a  want  of  provisions.  It  has  several  times  happened  that  the 
troops  were  reduced  to  one-half,  or  to  one-quarter  allowance,  and  some 
days  have  passed  without  any  meat  or  bread  being  delivered.  The  causes 
assigned  for  these  extraordinary  deficiencies,  are  the  very  low  state  of  the 
public  finances,  in  consequence  of  the  rapid  depreciation  of  the  continental 
currency,  and  some  irregularity  in  the  commissary's  department.  Our 
soldiers,  in  general,  support  their  sufferings  with  commendable  firmness,  but 
it  is  feared  that  their  patience  will  be  exhausted,  and  very  serious  conse 
quences  ensue." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

SUNDAY,  APRIL  2. 

At  Morristown :  "  I  have  received  intelligence,  which 
seems  to  place  it  beyond  doubt,  that  the  Enemy  are  about 
to  make  a  further  embarkation  of  Troops  from  New  York, 
and  the  common  opinion  is,  that  they  are  going  to  reinforce 
Sir  Henry  Clinton." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

The  first  embarkation  of  troops  for  the  invasion  of  South  Carolina, 
amounting  to  between  five  and  six  thousand  men,  left  Sandy  Hook,  Decem 
ber  26,  1779,  under  convoy  of  five  ships  of  the  line  and  several  frigates, 
commanded  by  Admiral  Arbuthnot.  General  Clinton  and  Lord  Cornwallis 
went  with  them.  The  second  detachment,  referred  to  above,  consisting  of 
twenty-five  hundred  men,  sailed  from  New  York,  April  7. 

WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  19. 

At  Morristown  :  "  April  19. — The  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne, 
Minister  of  France,  with  another  French  gentleman,  and 
Don  Juan  de  Miralles,  a  gentleman  of  distinction  from 
Spain,  arrived  at  headquarters  from  Philadelphia,  in  com 
pany  with  his  Excellency  General  Washington.  .  .  .  Gen 
eral  "Washington  accompanied  his  illustrious  visitors  to  take 
a  distant  view  of  the  enemy's  position  and  works  on  York 
and  Staten  island,  and  of  the  different  posts  of  our  army, 


176  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1780 

while  preparations  were  making  for  a  grand  field  review  of 
our  troops." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

In  giving  an  account  to  M.  de  Vergennes  of  his  visit  to  camp,  M.  de  la 
Luzerne  said,  "  The  time  which  I  passed  with  General  Washington  has 
convinced  me  more  than  ever  of  the  very  great  advantage  which  the  re 
public  derives  from  his  services.  His  virtues  have  gained  for  him  the  affec 
tion  of  the  army  which  he  commands,  and  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
generals  and  other  officers." 

MONDAY,  APKIL  24. 

At  Morristown  :  "April  24th. — A  field  of  parade  being 
prepared  under  the  direction  of  the  Baron  Steuben,  four 
battalions  of  our  army  were  presented  for  review,  by  the 
French  minister,  attended  by  his  Excellency  and  our  gen 
eral  officers.  Thirteen  cannon,  as  usual,  announced  their 
arrival  in  the  field,  and  they  received  from  the  officers  and 
soldiers  the  military  honors  due  to  their  exalted  rank.  .  .  . 
In  the  evening,  General  Washington  and  the  French  min 
ister,  attended  a  ball  [at  the  Morris  Hotel]  provided  by  our 
principal  officers,  at  which  were  present  a  numerous  collec 
tion  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  distinguished  character 

On  the  25th,  the  whole  army  was  paraded  under  arms,  to 
afford  M.  de  la  Luzerne  another  opportunity  of  reviewing 
the  troops,  after  which  he  was  escorted  part  of  the  way  to 
Philadelphia.  The  Spanish  gentleman  remained  danger 
ously  sick  of  a  pulmonic  fever  at  head  quarters,  and  on  the 
28th  he  expired." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

SATURDAY,  APRIL  29. 

At  Morristown :  "  The  Remains  of  Don  Juan  de  Mirailes 
are  to  be  inter'd  this  afternoon  at ,  Morris  Town.  The 
funeral  procession  will  move  from  Head  Quarters  between 
4  and  5  o'clock.  It  is  His  Excellency's  desire  that  all  the 
Officers  who  can  attend  consistent  with  the  safety  and  police 
of  the  Camp  should  be  invited  to  the  funeral — as  he  wishes 
to  show  all  possible  respect  to  the  memory  of  a  very  respec- 


1780]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  177 

table  subject  of  the  King  of  Spain." — Colonel  Scammdl  to 
General  Irvine,  MS.  Letter. 

"  April  29th — I  accompanied  Doctor  Schuyler  to  head  quarters,  to  attend 
the  funeral  of  M.  de  Miralles.  The  deceased  was  a  gentleman  of  high  rank 
in  Spain,  and  had  been  about  one  year  a  resident  with  our  Congress,  from 
the  Spanish  Court.  The  corpse  was  dressed  in  rich  state,  and  exposed  to 
public  view,  as  is  customary  in  Europe.  .  .  .  His  Excellency  General  Wash 
ington,  with  several  other  general  officers,  and  members  of  Congress,  attended 
the  funeral  solemnities,  and  walked  as  chief  mourners.  The  other  officers  of 
the  army,  and  numerous  respectable  citizens,  formed  a  splendid  procession, 
extending  about  one  mile." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

SUNDAY,  APRIL  30. 

At  Morristown :  "  I  am  extremely  sorry  to  communicate 
to  your  Excellency,  the  painful  intelligence  of  the  death  of 
Don  Juan  de  Miralles.  This  unfortunate  event  happened 
at  my  quarters  the  day  before  yesterday,  and  his  remains 
were  yesterday  interred  with  all  the  respect  due  to  his  char 
acter  and  merit." —  Washington  to  Don  Diego  Navarro,  Gov 
ernor  of  Cuba. 

Don  Juan  de  Marailles  was  supposed  to  be  an  unofficial  agent  of  the  Span 
ish  government,  but  had  no  instructions  directly  from  the  court.  Congress 
showed  every  mark  of  respect  to  this  agent  which  was  due  to  his  personal 
character,  but  carefully  avoided  treating  with  him  in  any  public  capacity, 
except  through  the  intervention  of  the  French  minister. 

TUESDAY,  MAY  9. 

At  Morristown :  "  Our  brigade  was  paraded  for  inspec 
tion  and  review  by  Baron  Steuben,  in  the  presence  of  his 
Excellency  General  Washington.  The  troops  appeared  to 
much  advantage,  and  the  officers  received  the  thanks  of  the 
Baron  for  the  military  and  soldierly  appearance  of  the 
men." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

SUNDAY,  MAY  14. 

At  Morristown :  "  The  arrival  of  the  Marquis  de  La 
fayette  opens  a  prospect,  which  offers  the  most  important 
advantages  to  these  States,  if  proper  measures  are  adopted 

13 


178  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1780 

to  improve  it.  He  announces  an  intention  of  his  court  to 
send  a  fleet  and  army  to  cooperate  effectually  with  us." — 
Washington  to  James  Duane. 

The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  sailed  from  Boston  January  11,  1779,  in  the 
new  American  frigate  "Alliance,"  and  arrived  at  Paris  February  12.  He 
took  much  pains  in  laying  before  Count  de  Vergennes,  Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs,  a  clear  and  correct  statement  of  the  situation  of  the  United  States, 
and  on  his  own  responsibility  urged  him  to  send  a  land  force  as  well  as  a 
fleet  to  co-operate  with  Washington's  army.  These  views  were  supported 
by  D'Estaing,  who  had  returned  to  France,  and  they  were  adopted  by 
the  ministry  in  sending  out  the  auxiliary  force  of  six  thousand  men  under 
Count  de  Kochambeau,  which  arrived  at  Khode  Island  July  10,  1780.  La 
fayette  sailed  from  Rochelle,  in  the  French  frigate  "  Hermione,"  March  19, 
and  arrived  in  Boston  harbor  April  27.  He  at  once  informed  Washington 
that  he  had  affairs  of  the  utmost  importance  which  he  should,  at  first,  com 
municate  to  him  alone,  and  on  the  2d  of  May  set  out  for  head-quarters, 
which  he  reached  on  the  10th. 

MONDAY,  MAY  29. 

At  Morristown :  "May  29th — Four  battalions  of  our 
troops  were  paraded  for  review  by  the  committee  of  Con 
gress,  in  the  presence  of  General  Washington ;  they  were 
duly  honored  with  the  military  salute." — Thacher's  Military 
Journal 

The  committee  of  Congress,  consisting" of  Philip  Schuyler,  John  Mathews, 
and  Nathaniel  Peabody,  had  been  instructed  to  proceed  to  head-quarters, 
and,  in  conjunction  with  the  Commander-in-Chief,  to  effect  such  reforms 
and  changes  in  all  the  departments  of  the  army  as  its  condition  required. 
In  a  report,  which  they  made  to  Congross  soon  after  their  arrival,  the  com 
mittee  represented  "  that  the  army  was  five  months  unpaid;  that  it  seldom 
had  more  than  six  days  provisions  in  advance,  and  was  on  several  occasions, 
for  sundry  successive  days,  without  meat ;  that  the  army  was  destitute  of 
forage ;  that  the  medical  department  had  neither  sugar,  tea,  chocolate,  wine, 
nor  spirits ;  and  that  every  department  was  without  money,  or  even  the 
shadow  of  credit." 

THURSDAY,  JUNE  1. 

At  Morristown :  "  We  have  received  advice  from  New 
York,  published  by  authority,  of  the  surrender  of  Charles 
ton.  As  I  dare  say  you  will  have  seen  the  hand-bill,  and, 


1780]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON1.  179 

as  I  am  pressed  for  time,  I  shall  not  go  into  particulars." — 
Washington  to  General  Robert  Howe. 

The  surrender  of  Charleston  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  with  the  garrison, 
commanded  by  Major-General  Lincoln,  took  place  on  the  12th  of  May.  It 
remained  in  the  possession  of  the  British  until  December  14,  1782.  Clinton 
sailed  from  Charleston,  with  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  on  the  5th  of  June,  leaving 
Cornwallis  in  chief  command  of  the  British  troops  at  the  South.  He  arrived 
at  New  York  June  17. 

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  7. 

At  Springfield,  New  Jersey :  The  enemy  having  landed 
on  the  night  of  June  6  at  Elizabethtown  Point,,  and  advanced 
the  next  morning  to  within  half  a  mile  of  Springfield,  Wash 
ington  put  the  army  in  motion  and  reached  the  Short  Hills, 
or  heights  of  Springfield,  ten  miles  southeast  of  Morristown, 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  7th.  After  some  skirmishing,  the 
enemy  retired  in  the  night  to  Elizabethtown  Point.  It  was 
on  this  occasion  that  Mrs.  Caldwell,  the  wife  of  the  Rev. 
James  Caldwell,  was  shot  by  a  British  soldier  while  sitting 
in  her  house,  at  Connecticut  Farms,  in  the  midst  of  her 
children. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  18. 

At  Springfield :  Orderly  Book. — "  As  it  is  at  all  times  of 
great  importance  both  for  the  sake  of  appearance  and  for 
the  regularity  of  service  that  the  different  military  Ranks 
should  be  distinguished  from  each  other  and  more  especially 
at  present, 

"  The  Commander  in  Chief  has  thought  proper  to  estab 
lish  the  following  distinctions  and  strongly  recommends  it 
to  all  the  Officers  to  endeavor  to  Conform  to  them  as 
speedily  as  possible. 

"  The  Major  General  to  wear  a  blue  coat  with  Buff  facings 
and  lining — yellow  buttons — white  or  buff  undercloaths  two 
Epaulets,  with  two  Stars  upon  each  and  a  black  and  white 
Feather  in  the  Hat. 

"  The  Brigadier  Generals  the  same  uniform  as  the  Major 


180  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON,         [1780 

Generals  with  the  difference  of  one  Star  instead  of  two  and 
a  white  feather. 

"  The  Colonels,  Lieutenant  Colonels  and  Majors  the  uni 
forms  of  their  regiments  *  and  two  Epaulettes. 

"  The  Captains ;  the  uniforms  of  their  regiments  and  an 
Epaulette  on  the  right  shoulder. 

"  The  Subalterns, — the  uniform  of  their  regiment  and  an 
Epaulette  on  the  left  shoulder." 

TUESDAY,  JUNE  20. 

At  Springfield :  "  In  a  struggle  like  ours — perplexed  with 
embarrassments — if  it  should  be  my  fortune  to  conduct  the 
Military  helm  in  such  a  manner  as  to  merit  the  approbation 
of  good  men  and  my  suffering  fellow  Citizens  it  will  be  the 
primary  happiness  of  my  life  because  it  is  the  first  &  great 
object  of  my  wishes." — Washington  to  Robert  Morris. 

Washington  remained  at  Springfield  until  June  21,  when,  suspecting  a 
design  against  West  Point,  the  army  commenced  moving  slowly  to  the 
North  Kiver,  arriving  the  following  day  at  Kockaway  Bridge,  about  eleven 
miles  north  of  Morristown.  On  the  23d,  the  enemy  having  advanced  in 
force  from  Elizabethtown,  the  army  moved  back  five  or  six  miles,  to  be  more 
in  supporting  distance.  After  burning  the  village  of  Springfield,  the  British 
retired  the  same  day  to  their  former  position,  and  in  the  night  crossed  over 
to  Staten  Island,  and  took  up  their  bridge. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  25. 

At  "Whippany,  New  Jersey :  "  On  receiving  intelligence 
of  the  Enemy's  withdrawing  from  the  Point,  all  the  Troops 
were  put  under  marching  orders  for  the  North  River ;  but 
the  weather  prevented  them  from  commencing  their  march 
before  this  morning." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Con 
gress. 

TUESDAY,  JUNE  27. 

At  Ramapo,  New  Jersey:  "Before  this  time,  the  Con 
necticut  division  will  probably  have  joined  you  [at  West 

*  For  the  General  Order  prescribing  the  uniforms  for  the  troops  of  the 
different  States,  see  page  166. 


1780]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  181 

Point].  The  rest  of  the  army  arrived  here  yesterday.  The 
delay,  which  has  occurred,  makes  it  probable,  that  the 
enemy  either  had  not  any  intention,  or  have  relinquished 
the  project,  of  attacking  West  Point." —  Washington  to  Gen 
eral  Robert  Howe. 

Kamapo  was  a  small  settlement  on  the  Kamapo  Kiver  in  Bergen  County, 
New  Jersey,  about  five  miles  south  of  the  present  Suffern's  Station  on  the 
New  York  and  Erie  Railway,  and  nearly  seven  miles  below  the  present 
village  of  Ramapo,  in  New  York.  "Washington  remained  at  Ramapo  until 
July  1,  when  he  made  his  head-quarters  at  Preakness,  about  five  miles 
northwest  of  Passaic  Falls  (now  in  the  city  of  Paterson),  occupying  the 
house  of  Colonel  Theunis  Dey,  until  the  29th,  when  the  army  left  for  the 
North  River.  The  "  Dey  House"  is  still  standing,  and  "  a  century  ago, 
must  have  been  one  of  the  finest  in  New  Jersey,  for  it  is  yet  remarkable 
for  its  architectural  symmetry  and  the  artistic  finish  of  the  masonry."* 

TUESDAY,  JULY  4. 

At  Preakness,  New  Jersey :  "  We  are  in  hourly  expecta 
tion  of  a  considerable  French  land  and  sea  force,  which  is 
intended  to  cooperate  with  us  against  the  common  enemy. 
We  are  for  this  purpose  endeavouring  to  draw  out  a  com 
petent  reinforcement  of  men  and  supplies  to  enable  us,  in 
conjunction  with  our  allies,  to  strike  decisively  at  the  Enemy. 
I  fear  we  shall  notwithstanding  the  emergency  of  the  oc 
casion  fall  very  short  of  the  number  of  men  required." — 
Washington  to  Colonel  Daniel  Brodhead,  at  Fort  Pitt,  MS. 
Letter. 

THURSDAY,  JULY  6. 

At  Preakness :  "  I  give  it  decisively  as  my  opinion — that 
unless  the  States  will  content  themselves  with  a  full  and 
well-chosen  representation  in  Congress  and  vest  that  body 
with  absolute  powers  in  all  matters  relative  to  the  great 
purposes  of  war,  and  of  general  concern  (by  which  the 
States  unitedly  are  affected,  reserving  to  themselves  all 

*  "  Washington's  Headquarters  at  Preakness,"  by  William  Nelson, 
Magazine  of  American  History,  iii.  490. 


182  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1780 

matters  of  local  and  internal  polity  for  the  regulation  of 
order  and  good  government)  we  are  attempting  an  impossi 
bility,  and  very  soon  shall  become  (if  it  is  not  already  the 
case)  a  many-headed  monster — a  heterogeneous  mass — that 
never  will  or  can  steer  to  the  same  point." — Washington  to 
Fielding  Lewis. 

FKIDAY,  JULY  14. 

At  Preakness :  "  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  Congress, 
that  I  have  this  moment  received  a  letter  from  Major  General 
Heath,  dated  Providence  on  the  llth,  informing  that  the 
afternoon  of  the  10th  the  French  fleet  arrived  off  Newport, 
that  the  signals  of  recognizance  had  been  made,  and  the 
fleet  was  standing  into  the  harbor  when  the  express  came 
away." —  Washington  to  the  Resident  of  Congress. 

SUNDAY,  JULY  16. 

At  Preakness :  "  I  hasten  to  impart  to  you  the  happiness 
I  feel  at  the  welcome  news  of  your  arrival ;  and,  as  well  in 
the  name  of  the  American  army,  as  in  my  own,  to  present 
you  with  an  assurance  of  our  warmest  sentiments  for  allies, 
who  have  so  generously  come  to  our  aid.  As  a  citizen  of 
the  United  States,  and  as  a  soldier  in  the  cause  of  liberty, 
I  thankfully  acknowledge  this  new  mark  of  friendship  from 
his  Most  Christian  Majesty,  and  I  feel  a  most  grateful  sensi 
bility  for  the  flattering  confidence  he  has  been  pleased  to 
honor  me  with  on  this  occasion." — Washington  to  the  Count 
de  ^Rochambeau. 

As  soon  as  the  Count  de  Kochambeau  arrived  at  Newport,  he  wrote  to 
General  Washington,  and  enclosed  a  copy  of  his  instructions  from  the  King 
and  an  account  of  his  voyage. 

"WEDNESDAY  JULY  19. 

At  Preakness  :  "  By  despatches  received  last  evening  from 
the  Count  de  Rochambeau,  I  am  informed,  that  the  French 
Fleet  and  Army,  consisting  of  eight  Ships  of  the  Line,  two 
Frigates,  and  two  Bombs,  and  upwards  of  five  thousand 


1780]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  183 

men,  have  arrived  at  Newport." — Washington  to    General 
Greene. 

"  The  Commander-in-chief  has  the  pleasure  to  congratulate  the  army  on 
the  arrival  of  a  large  land  and  naval  armament  at  Rhode  Island,  sent  by  his 
Most  Christian  Majesty  to  cooperate  with  the  troops  of  these  States  against 
the  common  enemy,  accompanied  with  every  circumstance  that  can  render 
it  honorable  and  useful." — Orderly  Book,  July  20. 

SUNDAY,  JULY  23. 

At  Preakness :  "  July  23d. — Sunday  I  attended  a  sermon 
preached  by  Mr.  Blair,  chaplain  of  the  artillery.  The  troops 
were  paraded  in  the  open  field,  the  sermon  was  well  calcu 
lated  to  inculcate  religious  principles,  and  the  moral  virtues. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington,  Major  Generals  Greene 
and  Knox,  with  a  number  of  other  officers  were  present." — 
Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

MONDAY,  JULY  24. 

At  Preakness :  "  The  intelligence  I  have  received  from 
different  quarters  is  of  the  same  nature  as  that  of  yours, 
and  speaks  of  an  embarkation  destined  against  our  allies  at 
Rhode  Island." — Washington  to  General  Robert  Howe. 

THURSDAY,  JULY  27. 

At  Preakness :  "  Mr.  Clinton  still  continues  to  threaten 
your  countrymen  with  a  combined  attack.  You  will  judge, 
as  well  as  I,  of  the  probability  of  his  being  sincere ;  but  I 
have  put  the  troops  here  under  marching  orders,  and  I 
have  ordered  those  at  West  Point  to  King's  Ferry.  If 
Clinton  moves  in  force  to  Rhode  Island,  we  may  possibly 
be  able  to  take  advantage  of  it." — Washington  to  the  Marquis 
de  Lafayette. 

"  According  to  orders,  our  brigade  marched  from  Prackanes  [Preakness] 
on  the  29th  of  July,  and  encamped  at  Paramus  at  night,  fifteen  miles.  The 
men  were  exceedingly  aifected  with  the  heat  and  fatigue.  We  marched  on 
the  succeeding  day  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning.  .  .  .  We  arrived  at  the 
North  river  and  crossed  the  ferry  [King's  Ferry],  August  1st,  where  we 


184  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1780 

found  the  whole  of  our  army  collecting  to  a  point." — Thacher's  Military 
Journal. 

MONDAY,  JULY  31. 

At  the  "  Robinson  House"  :  "  I  arrived  here  last  night; 
having  met  your  favours  of  the  25th  &  26th  at  Paramua 
[July  29],  where  the  army  then  lay.  Immediately  upon 
hearing  that  the  transports,  with  the  troops,  which  had  been 
some  days  on  board,  had  sailed  Eastward,  I  put  the  army 
in  motion  again,  They  will  cross  the  Ferry  to-day,  and  will 
be  joined  by  the  troops  from  hence.  I  propose  moving  as 
rapidly  as  possible  down  towards  Kingsbridge,  which  will 
either  oblige  the  enemy  to  abandon  their  project  against 
Rhode  Island,  or  may  afford  us  an  opportunity  of  striking 
them  to  advantage  in  this  quarter." —  Washington  to  General 
Heath. 

The  "  Kobinson  House,"  a  little  below  West  Point,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river,  was,  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  the  country  residence  of  Colonel 
Beverly  Kobinson,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Phillipse,  the 
owner  of  an  immense  landed  estate  on  the  Hudson.  Kobinson  was  a  Vir 
ginian  by  birth,  the  son  of  John  Robinson,  President  of  the  Council  of  Vir 
ginia  in  1734,  and  afterwards  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Burgesses.  Though 
opposed  to  the  measures  which  led  to  the  separation  of  the  colonies  from 
the  mother-country,  he  took  sides  with  the  loyalists  when  independence 
was  declared.  The  house  is  still  standing,  and  possesses  considerable  his 
torical  interest  as  having  been  the  head-quarters  of  Arnold  at  the  time  he 
commanded  at  West  Point,  and  was  maturing  his  plans  to  surrender  that 
post  to  the  British. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  1. 

At  Peekskill,  New  York :  "  We  are  thus  far,  my  dear 
Marquis,  on  our  way  to  New  York.  To-morrow  the  whole 
army  was  to  have  taken  up  its  line  of  march,  and  would 
have  moved  with  all  the  rapidity  in  our  power  to  this  ob 
ject,  had  we  not  a  few  hours  since  received  advice  from  the 
Sound,  dated  yesterday,  that  the  fleet  of  transports  [of  the 
enemy]  had  put  back,  and  were  steering  Westward." — 
Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 


1780]        'ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  185 

"  Within  Peokskill  village,  opposite  the  West  Chester  County  Bank,  is 
the  old  Birdsall  residence,  a  part  of  which  is  a  grocery  store.  This  build 
ing  was  erected  by  Daniel  Birdsall,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  village.  It 
•was  occupied  by  Washington  when  the  headquarters  of  the  army  were 
there." — Lossing's  Field-Book,  i.  737. 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  3. 

At  Peekskill :  "  You  are  to  proceed  to  West  Point,  and 
take  the  command  of  that  post  and  its  dependencies,  in 
which  all  are  included  from  Fishkill  to  King's  Ferry." — 
Washington  to  General  Arnold. 

"  It  is  now  ascertained,  August  4th,  that  the  formidable  manoeuvre  of  our 
army  has  effected  the  object  intended.  The  enemy's  expedition  to  Rhode 
Island  has  returned  to  New  York,  in  consequence  probably  of  the  alarm 
excited  for  the  safety  of  that  city.  Orders  are  now  received,  for  our  army 
to  recross  the  Hudson  to  the  Jersey  shore." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

SATURDAY,  AUGUST  6. 

At  Peekskill :  "  In  consequence  of  his  [Clinton's]  return, 
the  army  is  recrossing  the  Eiver  and  will  proceed  to  Dobbs' 
Ferry,  about  ten  miles  from  Kingsbridge,  where  we  intend 
to  establish  a  communication  that  will  save  us  considerable 
land  transportation,  in  case  New  York  is  our  eventual  ob 
ject." —  Washington  to  the  Count  de  Hochambeau. 

"August  5th,  1780. — At  4  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  whole  army  marched 
by  the  right,  the  Infantry  in  front,  and  recrossed  the  river  and  marched  4 
miles  on  the  road  towards  Kakeat  and  encamped  for  the  night.  .  August 
6th. — Continued  on  the  same  ground.  .  August  7th. — We  marched  at  2 
o'clock  in  the  morning  and  halted  near  Clarkstown,  and  encamped  for  the 
night.  .  August  8th. — We  marched  at  2  o'clock  in  the  morning,  by  the 
right  and  encamped  in  the  neighborhood  of  Tappan — a  most  excellent  coun 
try,  inhabited  chiefly  with  Low-Dutch." — MS.  Diary  of  Captain  Joseph 
McClellan,  Pennsylvania  Line. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  8. 

At  Tappan,  New  York :  "  We  are  now  going,  agreeably 
to  my  original  design,  to  establish  as  soon  as  possible  a  com 
munication  for  the  present  across  the  river  at  Dobbs'  Ferry, 
in  order  to  aid  our  land  transportation  and  facilitate  our 
supplies  of  bread." — Washington  to  General  Heath. 


186  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1780 

Tappan,  or  Orangetown,  as  it  was  more  often  called  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary  period,  then  in  Orange  (now  Kockland)  County,  New  York,  was 
about  two  miles  from  the  western  landing  at  Dobbs'  Ferry,  and  close  to  the 
New  Jersey  line.  While  at  Tappan,  Washington  made  his  head-quarters 
at  the  De  Wint  house,  a  low  one-story  brick  and  stone  dwelling,  which  is 
still  standing ;  here  he  remained  until  the  23d  of  August,  when  the  army 
moved  to  Bergen  County,  New  Jersey. 

FRIDAY,  AUGUST  11. 

At  Tappan :  "  We  shall  have  occasion  to  throw  up  some 
small  works  at  Dobbs'  Ferry,  to  secure  the  intended  com 
munication  at  that  place;  and,  in  order  that  we  may  be 
enabled  to  finish  them  in  the  most  expeditious  manner,  you 
will  be  pleased  to  order  sixty  of  Colonel  Baldwin's  Artificers 
to  come  immediately  down  here." — Washington  to  General 
Arnold. 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  24. 

At  Teaneck,  New  Jersey:  "You  are  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  Light  Infantry,  and  four  brigades  from 
your  own  wing,  to  be  employed  upon  a  forage  down  to  Ber 
gen,  and  from  thence  up  to  the  English  neighborhood." — 
Washington  to  General  Greene. 

On  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  August,  the  army  broke  camp  at  Tappan 
and  moved  ten  miles  lower  down  to  Teaneck,  a  ridge  of  land  running  north 
and  south,  about  two  miles  back  of  the  Palisades,  Bergen  County,  New 
Jersey.  Washington's  head-quarters  were  at  the  "  Liberty  Pole  Tavern," 
which  stood  on  ground  now  intersected  by  Palisade  Avenue,  near  the  centre 
of  the  present  village  of  Englewood.  On  the  4th  of  September,  the  army 
marched  to  Steenrapie,  three  miles  northwest  of  Hackensack,  and  went  into 
camp,  remaining  until  the  20th,  when  it  returned  to  Tappan. 

An  interesting  incident  of  this  encampment  is  recorded  by  Captain  Joseph 
McClellan  in  his  diary,  previously  quoted  from:  "September  19. — This 
afternoon  each  officer  of  the  Light  Infantry  received  an  elegant  small  sword 
as  a  present  from  the  Marquis  De  La  Fayette.' 

MONDAY,  AUGUST  28. 

At  Teaneck :  "  The  intelligence  brought  by  the  Alliance, 
of  the  second  Division  [of  French  troops]  being  blocked  up 
in  Brest  by  thirty-two  British  ships  of  the  line,  has  made  a 


1780]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  187 

material  change  in  the' prospects  of  the  Campaign.  This, 
and  the  extreme  distress  of  our  Magazines,  have  determined 
me  to  dismiss  all  the  Militia  in  service,  except  such  part  as 
was  wanted  for  immediate  purposes." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

The  frigate  "  Alliance"  arrived  at  Boston  from  L'Orient  on  the  16th  of 
August.  She  had  on  board  two  thousand  stands  of  arms,  several  cannon, 
and  a  quantity  of  powder  for  the  American  army. 

WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  6. 

At  the  "  Hopper  House,"  Bergen  County,  New  Jersey : 
A  council  of  war,  in  which  it  was  decided  that  it  was  not 
advisable  to  make  any  attempt  against  New  York  till  the 
second  French  division  should  arrive,  or  till  there  should 
be  a  naval  superiority  to  co-operate  with  the  movements  on 
land. 

"When  the  army  went  into  camp  at  Steenrapie,  on  September  4,  Washing 
ton  made  his  head-quarters  at  the  "  Hopper  House,"  on  the  road  to  Morris- 
town,  about  two  miles  from  the  New  York  line,  and  four  miles  south  of  the 
Ramapo  Pass.  It  was  here  that  he  received  (September  5)  the  news  of  the 
defeat  of  General  Gates  at  the  disastrous  battle  near  Camden,  South  Caro 
lina,  on  the  16th  of  August;  and  from  hence  he  set  out  on  his  journey  to 
Hartford,  on  Monday,  the  18th  of  September,  to  meet  Count  de  Rochambeau 
and  Admiral  de  Ternay,  in  conference. 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  8. 

At  the  "  Hopper  House"  :  "  If  convenient  to  you,  I  have 
the  honor  to  propose  the  20th  instant  for  our  interview  at 
Hartford,  where  I  hope  we  shall  be  able  to  combine  some 
plan  of  future  operation,  which  events  will  enable  us  to 
execute.  .  .  .  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  and  the  Command 
ant  of  Artillery  &  Engineers  [M.  de  Gouvion]  will  accom 
pany  me." — Washington  to  the  Count  de  Rochambeau. 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  10. 

At  Hackensack :  In  attendance  at  the  funeral  of  Briga 
dier-General  Enoch  Poor.  "  The  corpse  was  followed  by 


188  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1780 

the  officers  of  the  New  Hampshire  brigade ;  the  officers  of 
the  brigade  of  light  infantry,  which  the  deceased  had  lately 
commanded.  Other  officers  fell  in  promiscuously,  and  were 
followed  by  his  Excellency  General  Washington,  and  other 
general  officers." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

General  Poor  died  September  8,  from  a  wound  received  in  a  duel  with  a 
French  officer.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the  burial-ground  of  the  old 
Reformed  Dutch  Church,  at  Hackensack.  In  a  letter  to  the  President  of 
Congress,  dated  September  15,  Washington  wrote,  "  It  is  with  extreme 
regret,  that  I  announce  the  death  of  Brigadier-General  Poor  on  the  9th  [?] 
instant,  an  officer  of  distinguished  merit,  who  as  a  citizen  and  a  soldier,  had 
every  claim  to  the  esteem  of  his  country." 

TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  12. 

At  the  "  Hopper  House" :  "  The  20th  instant  is  appointed 
for  an  interview  with  Count  de  Rochambeau  and  the  Cheva 
lier  de  Ternay,  in  which  we  shall  probably  combine  several 
plans,  dependent  for  their  execution  on  different  contin 
gencies.  One  of  these  will  be  the  arrival  of  a  detachment 
from  your  fleet." —  Washington  to  the  Count  de  Guichen. 

The  Chevalier  de  Ternay  also  wrote  to  the  Count  de  Guichen,  requesting 
him  to  send  four  ships  of  the  line  to  the  coast  of  the  United  States  ;  but  he 
had  left  the  West  Indies  and  sailed  for  France  before  the  letters  arrived. 
M.  de  Monteil,  his  successor,  could  not  decipher  them,  and  of  course  no 
reinforcements  were  forwarded  from  the  fleet. 

WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  13. 

At  the  "Hopper  House":  "September  13th. — The  army 
was  paraded  to  be  reviewed  by  General  Washington,  accom 
panied  by  a  number  of  Indian  chiefs.  His  Excellency, 
mounted  on  his  noble  bay  charger,  rode  in  front  of  the  line 
of  the  army,  and  received  the  usual  salute." — Thacher's 
Military  Journal. 

THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  14. 

At  the  "  Hopper  House" :  "  I  shall  be  at  Peekskill  on 
Sunday  evening,  on  my  way  to  Hartford,  to  meet  the  French 
admiral  and  general.  You  will  be  pleased  to  send  down  a 


1780]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  189 

guard  of  a  captain  and  fifty  men  at  that  time,  and  direct  the 
quartermaster  to  endeavour  to  have  a  night's  forage  for 
about  forty  horses." — Washington  to  General  Arnold. 

SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  16. 

At  the  "  Hopper  House" :  "  To-morrow  I  set  out  for 
Hartford,  to  have  an  interview  with  the  French  General 
and  Admiral.  In  my  absence,  the  command  of  the  army 
devolves  upon  you." — Washington  to  General  Greene. 

Washington  did  not  in  reality  set  out  till  Monday  the  18th,  having  been 
delayed  one  or  two  days  longer  than  he  expected.  On  the  20th  the  army 
moved  back  to  its  old  quarters  at  Tappan. 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18. 

Leaves  Head-Quarters  for  Hartford :  Crosses  the  Hudson 
at  King's  Ferry,  where  he  is  met  by  General  Arnold,  who 
accompanies  him  to  Peekskill,  where  they  pass  the  night. 
In  the  morning,  "Washington  resumed  his  journey,  and 
Arnold  returned  to  his  quarters  at  the  "  Robinson  House." 

THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21. 

At  Hartford,  Connecticut :  In  conference  with  the  Count 
de  Rochambeau  and  Admiral  de  Ternay. 

"Upon  their  appearance  in  Hartford  [Washington  and  his  suite],  they 
were  received  with  imposing  ceremonies.  The  Governor's  Guards,  and  a 
company  of  artillery,  were  on  duty  upon  the  occasion.  They  saluted  Wash 
ington,  as  he  entered  the  town,  with  thirteen  guns.  Trumbull,  and  Colonel 
Jeremiah  Wadsworth,  and  other  distinguished  personages  of  the  State,  met 
him  as  he  advanced.  They  gave  him  a  cordial  welcome — and,  through 
crowds  that  rent  the  air  with  cheers,  and  strained  to  catch  a  sight  of  the 
illustrious  Commander-in-chief,  the  latter  made  his  way,  together  with 
Knox  and  La  Fayette,  to  the  residence  of  their  mutual  friend,  Colonel 
Wadsworth — there  upon  the  site  where  the  Historical  Society  of  Connecti 
cut  now  lifts  its  walls — and  where,  in  a  beautiful  mansion,  still  standing, 
though  upon  another  spot,  himself  and  his  principal  officers  were  nobly 
entertained  during  their  stay.  The  same  ceremony  was  repeated  soon  after 
Washington  came  upon  the  French  commander  and  suite.  They  were  for 
mally  received  at  the  City  Landing,  after  crossing  the  ferry — and  marching 


190  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1780 

to  the  area  in  front  of  the  Capitol,  were  there  met  by  General  "Washington 
and  his  military  companions.  .  .  .  The  interview  between  the  commanders 
was  continued  at  the  house  of  Colonel  Wadsworth — whither  the  parties 
retired." — Stuart's  Life  of  Jonathan  Trumbull,  p.  485. 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  22. 

At  Hartford :  "  Thursday  night,  the  Conference  was  con 
cluded.  Friday  saw  the  French  officers  start  on  their  re 
turn  to  Newport — the  Governor's  Guards  again  in  martial 
array — escorting  the  distinguished  guests  to  the  Biver  bank, 
while  thirteen  guns  renewedly  rent  the  air." — Life  of 
Jonathan  Trumbull,  p.  488. 

"  I  was  at  Hartford,  forty  leagues  distant  from  here  [Newport,  Ehode 
Island],  with  M.  de  Rochambeau.  We  were  only  six,  the  Admiral,  his  Chief 
of  Engineers  [Desandrouins],  his  son,  the  Viscomte  de  Rochambeau,  and  two 
aids-de-camp,  of  whom  I  was  one.  He  had  an  interview  there  with  Gen 
eral  Washington.  M.  de  Rochambeau  sent  me  in  advance,  to  announce  his 
arrival,  and  I  had  time  to  see  this  man,  illustrious,  if  not  unique  in  our 
century.  His  handsome  and  majestic,  while  at  the  same  time  mild  and 
open  countenance  perfectly  reflects  his  moral  qualities  ;  he  looks  the  hero  ; 
he  is  very  cold ;  speaks  little,  but  is  courteous  and  frank.  A  shade  of  sad 
ness  overshadows  his  countenance,  which  is  not  unbecoming,  and  gives  him 
an  interesting  air.  His  suite  was  more  numerous  than  ours.  The  Marquis 
de  Lafayette,  General  Knox,  Chief  of  Artillery,  M.  de  Gouvion,  a  French 
man,  Chief  of  Engineers,  and  six  aids-de-camp  [among  whom  were 
McHenry  and  Hamilton],  accompanied  him.  He  had  besides  an  escort  of 
22  dragoons." — Count  de  Fersen,  Magazine  of  American  History,  iii.  305. 

SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  23. 

Leaves  Hartford :  "  General  Washington  and  suite  shook 
hands  with  the  hospitable  "Wadsworth,  the  worthy  Governor 
Trumbull,  and  numerous  other  friends — and,  amid  volleys 
of  huzzas,  started  for  the  Head  Quarters  of  the  Army." — 
Life  of  Jonathan  Trumbull,  p.  488. 

In  consequence  of  an  insufficiency  of  naval  force,  and  the  arrival  at  New 
York  of  Admiral  Rodney,  from  the  West  Indies,  with  a  fleet,  the  Hartford 
conference  resulted  in  no  fixed  plan  of  operations.  The  interview,  however, 
was  important  and  serviceable  in  establishing  amicable  relations  between 
the  two  commanders. 


1780]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  191 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  24. 

At  Litchfield,  Connecticut :  "On  the  evening  of  Satur 
day,  September  23d,  1780,  General  WASHINGTON  arrived 
here  [Litchfield],  on  his  way  from  Hartford  to  West  Point, 
and  was  entertained  at  the  hospitable  mansion  of  General 
Oliver  Wolcott,  in  South  street.  He  spent  the  night  in  the 
village,  and  on  the  following  morning  proceeded  west 
ward." — Kilbourne's  Chronicles  of  Litchfield,  p.  129. 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  25. 

At  the  "  Robinson  House"  :  "  General  Arnold  is  gone  to 
the  Enemy.  I  have  just  now  received  a  line  from  him,  en 
closing  one  to  Mrs.  Arnold,  dated  on  board  the  Vulture. 
From  this  circumstance,  and  Colo.  Lamb's  being  detached 
on  some  business,  the  command  of  the  Garrison,  for  the 
present,  devolves  on  you." —  Washington  to  Colonel  Wade,  at 
West  Point. 

"Washington  reached  Fishkill  on  his  return  from  Hartford  on  the  after 
noon  of  the  24th,  soon  after  leaving  which  he  met  M.  de  Luzerne,  the  French 
minister,  with  his  suite,  on  his  way  to  visit  the  Count  de  Rochambeau  at 
Newport,  who  induced  him  to  turn  back  and  pass  the  night  at  Fishkill. 
He  left  early  the  next  day,  and,  after  examining  the  redoubts  on  the  river, 
arrived  at  the  "  Robinson  House,1'  Arnold's  head-quarters,  about  noon,  one 
hour  after  the  traitor's  escape. 

TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  26. 

At  the  "  Robinson  House" :  "  I  arrived  here  yesterday, 
on  my  return  from  an  interview  with  the  French  general 
and  admiral,  and  have  been  witness  to  a  scene  of  treason, 
as  shocking  as  it  was  unexpected.  General  Arnold,  from 
every  circumstance,  had  entered  into  a  plot  for  sacrificing 
West  Point.  He  had  an  interview  with  Major  Andre,  the 
British  adjutant-general,  last  week  at  Joshua  II.  Smith's, 
where  the  plan  was  concerted.  By  an  extraordinary  con 
currence  of  incidents  Andre  was  taken  while  on  his  return, 
with  several  papers  in  Arnold's  hand-writing,  that  proved 


192  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1780 

the  treason.  The  latter  unluckily  got  notice  of  it  before  I 
did,  went  immediately  down  the  river,  got  on  board  the 
Vulture,  which  brought  up  AndrS,  and  proceeded  to  New 
York." —  Washington  to  Governor  Clinton. 

Major  Andre  and  Joshua  Hett  Smith  were  brought  to  the  "Robinson 
House"  on  the  morning  of  the  26th,  the  former  from  Colonel  Sheldon's 
quarters  in  Lower  Salem,  and  the  latter  from  Fishkill.  They  were  sent 
over  to  West  Point  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
28th  were  conveyed  in  separate  barges  down  the  river  to  Stony  Point,  and 
from  thence  conducted,  under  a  strong  escort,  to  Tappan,  where  the  main 
body  of  the  army  was  encamped. 

WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  27 

At  the  "  Robinson  House"  :  "  I  have  concluded  to  send 
Major  Andre  of  the  British  army,  and  Mr.  Joshua  H.  Smith, 
who  has  had  a  great  hand  in  carrying  on  the  business 
between  him  and  Arnold  to  Camp  [at  Tappan]  to-morrow. 
...  I  intend  to  return  to-morrow  morning." —  Washington 
to  General  Greene. 

Joshua  Hett  Smith,  at  whose  house,  near  Stony  Point,  Arnold  and  Andre" 
held  their  interview  (September  22),  was  tried  by  a  military  court  and  ac 
quitted.  He  was  soon  afterwards  arrested  by  the  civil  authorities  and  com 
mitted  to  the  jail  at  Goshen,  Orange  County,  whence  he  escaped  and  made 
his  way  through  the  country,  in  the  disguise  of  a  woman,  to  New  York. 
Smith  went  to  England  with  the  British  army  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
in  1808  published  a  book  in  London  entitled  "An  Authentic  Narrative  of 
the  Causes  which  led  to  the  Death  of  Major  Andre,"  a  work  of  very  little 
reliable  authority.  He  died  at  New  York  in  1818. 

THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28. 

At  Tappan :  Summons  a  board  of  general  officers  to 
examine  into  the  case  of  Major  Andre,  adjutant-general  of 
the  British  army. 

The  board,  which  was  composed  of  fourteen  general  officers,  General 
Greene  presiding,  met  on  the  following  day  (September  29),  and,  after  ma 
turely  considering  the  facts,  reported,  "  That  Major  Andre",  Adjutant  Gen 
eral  of  the  British  Army,  ought  to  be  consider'd  as  a  Spy  from  the  Enemy, 
and  that,  agreeably  to  the  Law  and  usage  of  Nations,  it  is  their  opinion  he 
ought  to  suffer  death." 


1780]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  193 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  1. 

At  Tappan :  Orderly  Book. — "  Major  Andre  is  to  be  exe 
cuted  to-morrow  at  12  o'clock  precisely.  A  Battalion  of  80 
Files  from  each  wing  to  attend  the  Execution." 

"October  2d. — Major  Andre"  is  no  more  among  the  living.  I  have  just 
•witnessed  his  exit.  It  was  a  tragical  scene  of  the  deepest  interest.  During 
his  confinement  and  trial,  he  exhibited  those  proud  and  elevated  sensibilities 
which  designate  greatness  and  dignity  of  mind.  Not  a  murmur  or  a  sigh 
ever  escaped  him,  and  the  civilities  and  attentions  bestowed  on  him  were 
politely  acknowledged.  .  .  .  The  fatal  hour  having  arrived,  a  large  detach 
ment  of  troops  was  paraded,  and  an  immense  concourse  of  people  assem 
bled  ;  almost  all  our  general  and  field  officers,  excepting  his  Excellency  and 
his  staff,  were  present  on  horseback ;  melancholy  and  gloom  pervaded  all 
ranks,  and  the  scene  was  aflectingly  awful." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  5. 

At  Tappan :  "  We  are  now  drawing  an  inactive  campaign 
to  a  close ;  the  beginning  of  which  appeared  pregnant  with 
events  of  a  favorable  complexn.  I  hoped,  but  I  hoped  in 
vain,  that  a  prospect  was  displaying,  which  wd.  enable  me 
to  fix  a  period  to  my  military  pursuits,  and  restore  me  to 
domestic  life.  .  .  .  We  have  been  half  of  our  time  without 
provision,  and  are  likely  to  continue  so.  We  have  no  maga 
zines,  nor  money  to  form  them ;  and  in  a  little  time  we 
shall  have  no  men,  if  we  had  money  to  pay  them.  We  have 
lived  upon  expedients  till  we  can  live  no  longer.  In  a  word, 
the  history  of  the  war  is  a  history  of  false  hopes  and  tempo 
rary  devices,  instead  of  system  and  economy." — Washington 
to  General  John  Cadwalader. 

FRIDAY,  OCTOBER  6. 

At  Tappan :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  General  will  beat  at  7 
o'clock  to  morrow  morning,  the  assemble  at  J  past  eight, 
and  the  march  will  commence  at  9  precisely." 

SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  7. 

At  Paramus,  New  Jersey :  "  The  main  body  of  the  army, 
the  forage  about  Orange  town  and  the  lower  Country  being 

14 


194  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1780 

exhausted,  moved  this  morning,  and  is  now  arrived  here. 
We  have  had  a  cold,  wet  and  tedious  march,  on  account  of 
the  feeble  state  of  our  Cattle,  and  have  not  a  drop  of  rum 
to  give  the  troops.  My  intention  is  to  proceed  with  them 
to  the  country  in  the  neighborhood  of  Passaic  Falls." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBEK  8. 

At  Preakness,  New  Jersey :  "  The  French  Fleet  has  been 
blocked  up  in  the  harbor  of  Newport  almost  ever  since  its 
arrival  there,  by  a  superior  British  squadron ;  which  superi 
ority  has  been  lately  increased  by  the  arrival  of  Admiral 
Rodney  from  the  West  Indies  with  ten  ships.  Count  de 
Guichen  touched  nowhere  upon  this  coast,  tho,  by  a  variety 
of  accounts,  he  was  up  as  high  as  the  latitude  of  26,  and 
by  some  higher." —  Washington  to  General  Gates. 

On  arriving  at  Preakness  the  Commander-in-Chief  re-established  himself 
at  his  old  head-quarters,  the  "  Dey  House,"  where  he  remained  until  No 
vember  27. 

FRIDAY,  OCTOBER  13. 

At  Preakness :  "  The  want  of  provisions  is  a  clog  to  our 
operations  in  every  quarter.  We  have  several  times,  in  the 
course  of  this  campaign,  been  without  either  Bread  or  Meat 
and  have  never  had  more  than  four  or  five  days  beforehand. 
.  .  .  The  state  of  Virginia  are  desirous  of  an  expedition  to 
Detroit,  and  would  make  great  exertions  to  carry  it  into 
execution.  But  while  the  enemy  are  so  formidable  to  the 
southward,  and  are  making  such  strides  in  that  quarter,  I 
fear  it  will  require  a  greater  force  of  men  and  supplies  to 
check  them  than  we,  since  the  defeat  near  Camden,  shall  be 
able  shortly  to  draw  together." —  Washington  to  Colonel  Brod- 
head,  Commanding  at  Fort  Pitt,  MS.  Letter. 

SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  14. 

At  Preakness  :  "  I  am  now  to  request  that  you  will  pro 
ceed  to  West-Point,  and  take  upon  you  the  command  of 


1780]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  195 

that  post  and  its  dependencies." — Washington  to    General 
Heath. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  18. 

At  Preakness :  "  I  am  religiously  persuaded,  that  the 
duration  of  the  war,  and  the  greatest  part  of  the  misfortunes 
and  perplexities  we  have  hitherto  experienced  are  chiefly  to 
be  attributed  to  the  system  of  temporary  enlistments.  Had 
we  in  the  commencement  raised  an  army  for  the  war,  such 
as  was  within  the  reach  of  the  abilities  of  these  States  to 
raise  and  maintain,  we  should  not  have  suffered  those  mili 
tary  checks  which  have  so  frequently  shaken  our  cause,  nor 
should  we  have  incurred  such  enormous  expenditures  as 
have  destroyed  our  paper  currency,  and  with  it  all  public 
credit."  —  Washington's  Circular  Letter  to  the  States,  Octo 
ber  18. 

FKIDAY,  OCTOBER  20. 

At  Preakness :  "  The  plan  proposed  for  taking  A[rnol]d 
the  outlines  of  which  are  communicated  in  your  letter  wh'ch 
was  this  moment  put  into  my  hands  without  a  date — has 
every  mark  of  a  good  one — I  therefore  agree  to  the  prom 
ised  rewards,  and  have  such  entire  confidence  in  your  man 
agement  of  the  business  as  to  give  it  my  fullest  approbation  ; 
and  leave  the  whole  to  the  guidance  of  your  own  judgment, 
with  this  expressed  stipulation  &  pointed  injunction,  that  he 
A[rnol]d  is  brought  to  me  alive.  No  circumstances  what 
ever  shall  obtain  my  consent  to  his  being  put  to  death — the 
idea  which  would  accompany  such  an  event  would  be  that 
ruffians  had  been  hired  to  assassinate  him, — my  aim  is  to 
make  a  public  example  of  him — and  this  should  be  strongly 
impressed  upon  those  who  are  employed  to  bring  him  off." 
Washington  to  Major  Henry  Lee. 

Soon  after  arriving  at  head-quarters,  at  Tappan,  the  Commander-in-Chief 
cent  for  Major  Henry  Lee,  and  informed  him  that  he  was  extremely  desirous 
of  securing  the  person  of  General  Arnold,  then  in  New  York  City,  and  that 


196  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1780 

he  relied  upon  him  to  furnish  a  trustworthy  agent  for  the  purpose.  Major 
Lee,  after  considerable  persuasion,  induced  John  Champe,  a  sergeant-major 
in  his  legion,  to  undertake  the  service  by  making  a  pretended  desertion  to 
the  enemy  from  the  camp  at  Tappan.  The  desertion  took  place  at  night, 
and  so  well  was  it  managed  that  Champe,  although  hotly  pursued  by  a  party 
of  his  fellow-dragoons,  succeeded  in  getting  into  New  York,  and,  after  being 
examined  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  was  sent  to  Arnold,  who  made  him  sergeant- 
major  in  a  legion  he  was  raising  for  an  expedition  southward.  Having 
settled  upon  a  plan,  Champe  found  means  to  inform  Major  Lee,  who  com 
municated  the  details  to  Washington,  and  the  letter  above  quoted,  contain 
ing  his  positive  injunction  that  the  traitor  must  be  taken  alive,  was  written 
for  final  instructions.  The  capture  was  arranged  for  the  night  of  November 
5,  but  on  that  day,  unfortunately,  Arnold  moved  his  quarters,  and  the  legion 
to  which  Champe  belonged  was  sent  shortly  afterwards  to  Virginia.  He 
finally  succeeded  in  escaping  and  joined  "  Lee's  Legion  ;"  but  "Washington, 
knowing  that  he  would  immediately  be  hanged  if  caught  by  the  enemy, 
discharged  him  from  the  service,  after  munificently  rewarding  him.  Ser 
geant  Champe  was  born  in  Loudon  County,  Virginia,  in  1752,  and  died  in 
Kentucky  about  the  year  1798. 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBEK  22. 

At  Preakness :  "  Congress  having  been  pleased,  by  their 
resolution  of  the  5th  instant,  to  authorize  me  to  appoint  an 
officer  to  the  command  of  the  Southern  army,  in  the  room 
of  Major-General  Gates,  till  an  inquiry  can  be  had  into  his 
conduct  as  therein  directed,  I  have  thought  proper  to  choose 
you  for  this  purpose.  You  will,  therefore,  proceed  without 
delay  to  the  Southern  army,  now  in  North  Carolina,  and 
take  the  command  accordingly.  ...  I  have  put  Major 
Lee's  corps  under  marching  orders,  and,  so  soon  as  he  is 
ready,  shall  detach  him  to  join  you." — Washington  to  Gen 
eral  Greene. 

General  Gates,  who  had  been  appointed  by  Congress,  on  the  13th  of  June, 
to  the  command  of  the  Southern  army,  independent  of  the  Commander-in- 
Chief,  was  totally  defeated  by  Lord  Cornwallis  at  Camden,  South  Carolina, 
August  16,  1780.  "  This  battle  terminated  the  military  career  of  General 
Gates,  whose  singular  fortune  it  was  to  conduct  the  most  prosperous  and  the 
most  disastrous  of  the  military  enterprises  of  the  war."  He  was  removed 
from  command  and  suspended  from  service  until  inquiry  should  be  had  aa 
to  his  conduct. 


1780]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.  197 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  5. 

At  Preakness :  "  Our  affairs  at  the  southward  put  on  a 
more  pleasing  aspect  since  the  defeat  of  Colonel  Ferguson. 
Lord  Cornwallis  was  retreating  precipitately  from  Charlotte, 
and  giving  up  a  fine  district  of  country,  which  he  had  in 
possession." — Washington  to  Governor  Clinton. 

The  battle  of  King's  Mountain,  near  the  line  between  North  and  South 
Carolina,  in  which  a  body  of  British  regulars  and  Tories,  under  Major 
Patrick  Ferguson,  was  defeated  and  obliged  to  surrender,  was  fought  October 
7.  Major  Ferguson  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  his  men  were  killed,  and 
about  the  same  number  were  wounded.  The  attacking  party,  composed  of 
hardy  mountaineers  from  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  under  Colonels 
Campbell,  McDowell,  Cleaveland,  Shelby,  and  Sevier,  having  accomplished 
the  object  for  which  they  assembled,  returned  to  their  homes.  Their  loss 
was  twenty  men,  and  a  number  wounded. 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER,  20. 

At  Preakness:  "A  foreign  loan  is  indispensably  neces 
sary  to  the  continuance  of  the  war.  Congress  will  deceive 
themselves,  if  they  imagine  that  the  army,  or  a  State  that  is 
the  theatre  of  war,  can  rub  through  a  second  campaign  as 
the  last.  It  would  be  as  unreasonable  as  to  suppose,  that, 
because  a  man  had  rolled  a  snow-ball  till  it  had  acquired 
the  size  of  a  horse,  that  he  might  do  so  till  it  was  as  large 
as  a  house.  Matters  may  be  pushed  to  a  certain  point, 
beyond  which  we  cannot  move  them." — Washington  to  Gen 
eral  Sullivan. 

THURSDAY,  NOVEMBER  23. 

At  Preakness :  Is  visited  by  the  Marquis  de  Chastellux, 
major-general  in  the  French  army. 

"•  "  After  riding  two  miles  along  the  right  flank  of  the  army,  and  after  pass 
ing  thick  woods  on  the  right,  I  found  myself  in  a  small  plain,  where  I  saw 
a  handsome  farm  ;  a  small  camp  which  seemed  to  cover  it,  a  large  tent  ex 
tended  in  the  court,  and  several  waggons  round  it,  convinced  me  that  this 
was  his  Excellency's  quarter ;  for  it  is  thus  Mr.  Washington  is  called  in  the 
army,  and  throughout  America.  M.  de  la  Fayette  was  in  conversation  with 
a  tall  man,  five  foot  nine  inches  high  (about  five  foot  ten  inches  and  a  half 


198  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1780 

English),  of  a  noble  and  mild  countenance.  It  was  the  General  himself.  I 
was  soon  off  horseback,  and  near  him.  The  compliments  were  short;  the 
sentiments  with  which  I  was  animated,  and  the  good  wishes  he  testified  for 
me  were  not  equivocal.  He  conducted  me  to  his  house,  where  I  found  the 
company  still  at  table,  although  the  dinner  had  been  long  over.  He  pre 
sented  me  to  the  Generals  Knox,  Waine,  Howe,  &c.  and  to  his  family,  then 
composed  of  Colonels  Hamilton  and  Tilgman,  his  Secretaries  and  his  Aides 
de  Camp,  and  of  Major  Gibbs,  commander  of  his  guards  ;  for  in  England 
and  America,  the  Aides  de  Camp,  Adjutants  and  other  officers  attached  to 
the  General,  form  what  is  called  his  family.  A  fresh  dinner  was  prepared 
for  me  and  mine  ;  and  the  present  was  prolonged  to  keep  me  company." — 
De  Chastellux,  Travels  in  North  America,  i.  112. 

FRIDAY,  NOVEMBER  24. 

At  Preakness :  Reviews  the  army  at  the  different  camps, 
accompanied  by  the  Marquis  de  Chastellux. 

"  At  our  return  we  found  a  good  dinner  ready,  and  about  twenty  guests, 
among  whom  were  Generals  Howe  and  Sinclair.  .  .  .  The  conversation  was 
calm  and  agreeable ;  his  Excellency  was  pleased  to  enter  with  me  into  the 
particulars  of  some  of  the  principal  operations  of  the  war,  but  always  with 
a  modesty  and  conciseness,  which  proved  that  it  was  from  pure  complaisance 
he  mentioned  it.  ...  The  weather  was  so  bad  on  the  25th,  that  it  was  im 
possible  for  me  to  stir,  even  to  wait  on  the  generals,  to  whom  M.  de  la  Fay- 
ette  was  to  conduct  me.  I  easily  consoled  myself  for  this,  finding  it  a  great 
luxury  to  pass  a  whole  day  with  General  Washington,  as  if  he  were  at  his 
house  in  the  country,  and  had  nothing  to  do.  The  Generals  Glover,  Hunt 
ingdon,  and  some  others,  dined  with  us,  and  the  Colonels  Stewart  and  But 
ler,  two  officers  distinguished  in  the  army.  The  intelligence  received  this 
day  occasioned  the  proposed  attack  on  Staten  Island  to  be  laid  aside.  .  .  . 
It  was  determined  therefore  that  the  army  should  march  the  next  day  to 
winter  quarters,  and  that  I  should  continue  my  route  to  Philadelphia." — 
De  Chastellux,  i.  124. 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  26. 

At  Preakness :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  army  will  march  to 
morrow  morning.  The  Generate  will  beat  at  nine.  The 
Assemblee  at  half  past  nine,  and  the  march  will  commence 
precisely  at  ten." 

The  Marquis  de  Chastellux  left  camp  early  in  the  morning  of  the  27th. 
It  was  this  visit  to  Washington  that  brought  out  his  admirable  pen-portrait 
of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  so  frequently  quoted :  "  It  is  not  my  intention 


1780]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  199 

to  exaggerate.  I  wish  only  to  express  the  impression  General  Washington 
has  left  on  my  mind ;  the  idea  of  a  perfect  whole,  that  cannot  be  the  produce 
of  enthusiasm,  which  rather  would  reject  it,  since  the  effect  of  proportion  is 
to  diminish  the  idea  of  greatness.  Brave  without  temerity,  laborious  with 
out  ambition,  generous  without  prodigality,  noble  without  pride,  virtuous 
without  severity  ;  he  seems  always  to  have  confined  himself  within  those 
limits,  where  the  virtues,  by  cloathing  themselves  in  more  lively,  but  more 
changeable  and  doubtful  colours,  may  be  mistaken  for  faults.  This  is  the 
seventh  year  that  he  has  commanded  the  army,  and  that  he  has  obeyed  Con 
gress  ;  more  need  not  be  said,  especially  in  America,  where  they  know  how  to 
appreciate  all  the  merit  contained  in  this  simple  fact.  Let  it  be  repeated  that 
Conde  was  intrepid,  Turenne  prudent,  Eugene  adroit,  Catinat  disinterested. 
It  is  not  thus  that  Washington  will  be  characterized.  It  will  be  said  of  him, 

AT   THE   END   OF   A   LONG   CIVIL  WAR,  HE    HAD   NOTHING  WITH  WHICH    HE 

COULD  REPROACH  HIMSELF.  ...  In  speaking  of  this  perfect  whole  of  which 
General  Washington  furnishes  the  idea,  I  have  not  excluded  exterior  form. 
His  stature  is  noble  and  lofty,  he  is  well  made,  and  exactly  proportioned ; 
his  physiognomy  mild  and  agreeable,  but  such  as  to  render  it  impossible  to 
speak  particularly  of  any  of  his  features,  so  that  in  quitting  him,  you  have 
only  the  recollection  of  a  fine  face." — Travels  in  North  America,  i.  137. 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER  27. 

At  Preakness  :  "  You  will  march  with  the  division  under 
your  command  to  the  ground  in  the  neighborhood  of  Morris- 
town,  which  Colonel  Craig  has  pitched  upon  for  the  winter 
cantonment  of  the  line,  and  on  which  he  has  been  preparing 
huts." — Washington  to  General  Wayne. 

TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  28. 

At  Morristown,  New  Jersey :  "  I  arrived  at  this  place  to 
day,  having  yesterday  broken  up  the  camp  near  Passaic 
Falls,  and  detached  the  troops  to  their  different  places  of 
cantonment.  I  shall  repair  to  ISTew  Windsor,  where  I  pur 
pose  to  establish  my  winter-quarters,  after  having  made 
some  necessary  regulations  here  and  visited  the  hospitals." 
—  Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"Nov.  1780. — To  the  Expenditures  on  a  journey  (after  the  Army  left  the 
Field  for  Winter  Quarters)  to  Morristown — Fleming  Town — Halkets  Town 
[Hackettstown] — New  Germ"  Town — Sussex  C*  House  &c.  to  the  Canton 
ment  at  New  Windsor — 476  Doll"  &  £102.14."—  Washington's  Accounts. 


200  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.          [1780 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER  6. 

At  New  Windsor,  New  York :  "December  6th. — At  even 
ing  Ms  Excellency  Gen.  "Washington,  arrived  at  New  Wind 
sor,  where  he  took  winter-quarters." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

Washington  remained  at  New  Windsor  (except  as  stated)  until  June  25, 
1781,  occupying  his  old  quarters,  the  "William  Ellison  House."  This  is 
the  house  referred  to  by  Lossing  (Field-Book,  5.  681)  as  a  "plain  Dutch 
house,  long  since  decayed  and  demolished.  In  that  humble  tenement  Lady 
Washington  entertained  the  most  distinguished  officers  and  their  ladies,  as 
well  as  the  more  obscure  who  sought  her  friendship." 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  10. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  The  army  is  cantoned  in  the  follow 
ing  manner.  The  Pennsylvania  line  near  Morristown ;  the 
Jersey  brigade  at  the  entrance  of  the  Clove,  to  cover  the 
communication ;  the  New  York  brigade  in  the  vicinity  of 
Albany,  furnishing  the  garrison  of  Fort  Schuyler ;  and  the 
New  England  lines  at  West  Point  and  its  dependencies; 
the  regiments  much  weakened  by  discharging  the  levies." 
—  Washington  to  Baron  Steuben. 

"December  10. — A  little  before  noon,  Gen.  .Washington  visited  West 
Point." — Heath1  s  Memoirs. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  11. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  The  situation  of  the  Army  in  respect 
to  Cloathing  is  really  distressing.  By  collecting  all  our 
remnants,  and  those  of  a  thousand  colors  &  kinds,  we  shall 
scarcely  make  them  comfortable.  Uniformity,  one  of  the 
essentials  of  discipline,  &  every  thing  in  the  appearance  of 
a  Soldier,  must  be  dispensed  with ; — and  what  makes  the 
matter  more  mortifying  is,  that  we  have,  I  am  positively 
assured  Ten  thousand  compleat  suits  ready  in  France  & 
laying  there  because  our  public  agents  cannot  agree  whose 
business  it  is  to  ship  them." — Washington  to  General  Lincoln. 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER  13. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  hear, 
that  my  letters  of  introduction  were  serviceable  to  you.  I 


1780]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  201 

am  persuaded  there  is  not  wanting  a  disposition  in  Con 
gress,  or  the  individual  States  at  the  southward,  to  afford 
you  every  support,  which  the  unhappy  state  of  our  finances 
will  admit." — Washington  to  General  Greene. 

I  "  Public  credit  is  so  totally  lost,  that  private  people  will  not  give  their 
aid,  though  they  see  themselves  involved  in  one  common  ruin.  It  is  my 
opinion  that  General  Washington's  influence  will  do  more  than  all  the  as 
semblies  upon  the  continent.  I  always  thought  him  exceeding  popular ; 
but  in  many  places  he  is  little  less  than  adored,  and  universally  admired. 
His  influence  in  this  country  might  possibly  effect  something  great.  How 
ever,  I  found  myself  exceedingly  well  received,  but  more  from  being  the 
friend  of  the  General,  than  from  my  own  merit." — Greene  to  Hamilton, 
January  10,  1781. 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBEK  19. 

At  New  Windsor :  Entertains  the  Marquis  de  Chastellux, 
on  his  way  to  Stillwater  and  Saratoga. 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER  20. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  Disappointed  of  the  second  division 
of  French  troops,  but  more  especially  in  the  expected  naval 
superiority,  which  was  the  pivot  upon  which  every  thing 
turned,  we  have  been  compelled  to  spend  an  inactive  cam 
paign,  after  a  flattering  prospect  at  the  opening  of  it,  and 
vigorous  struggles  to  make  it  a  decisive  one  on  our  part." 
—  Washington  to  Benjamin  Franklin,  at  Paris. 

The  second  division  of  French  troops  destined  for  America,  which  had 
been  blockaded  in  the  harbor  of  Brest,  never  arrived,  although  provision 
had  partly  been  made  for  quartering  them  at  New  London,  Norwich, 
Lebanon,  Windham,  and  other  Connecticut  towns. 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  23. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  You  will  take  command  of  such  of 
the  detachments  of  water  guards,  now  on  the  river,  as  you 
may  think  necessary,  and  with  them  attempt  to  surprise  and 
bring  off  General  Knyphausen  from  Morris's  House  on 
York  Island,  or  Sir  Henry  Clinton  from  Kennedy's  House 
in  the  city,  if,  from  the  tide,  weather,  and  other  circum- 


202  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1780 

stances,  you  shall  judge  the  enterprise  practicable." —  Wash 
ington  to  Colonel  Humphreys. 

"  On  the  25th  inst.  Major  Humphries,  Aid-de-camp  to  the  Commander 
in  Chief,  went  [from  the  post  at  Dobbs'  Ferry]  towards  New  York  on  an 
enterprize;  he  was  attended  by  Capt.  Welles,  of  the  Connecticut  line, 
Lieut.  Hart,  Ensign  M'Calpin,  Mr.  Buchanan,  Mr.  M'Guyer,  and  twenty- 
four  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  in  one  barge  and  two  whale- 
boats.  The  wind  was  very  fresh  at  north-west  in  the  night,  and  the  boats 
were  forced  past  the  city,  and  one  of  them  almost  down  to  Sandy-Hook — 
one  of  the  boats  put  in  at  Staten  Island :  at  length  the  three  went  round  to 
Brunswick,  from  whence  the  Major  and  all  the  others,  returned  to  the  army 
on  the  1st  of  January." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  30. 

At  "West  Point:  "December  30th. — Gen.  Washington 
visited  the  Point,  and,  with  a  number  of  other  officers, 
dined  with  our  General." — Heath's  Memoirs. 


1781. 


WEDNESDAY,  JANUARY  3. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  To-day  at  noon  I  received  yours  of 
the  2d  in  the  morning  by  Major  Fishbourn,  who  has  given 
me  a  full  account  of  the  unhappy  and  alarming  defection  of 
the  Pennsylvania  line." — Washington  to  General  Wayne. 

On  the  1st  of  January  (about  nine  o'clock  at  night)  a  mutiny  broke  out 
among  the  Pennsylvania  troops,  in  winter-quarters  on  Kimball  Hill,  near 
Morristown,  New  Jersey.  About  thirteen  hundred  men  paraded  under 
arms,  refused  obedience  to  their  officers,  killed  Captain  Billings,  mortally 
wounded  Captain  Talbot,  and  committed  various  outrages.  On  the  follow 
ing  day  the  mutineers  marched  in  a  body  towards  Princeton  with  six  field- 
pieces,  avowing  their  intention  to  proceed  to  Philadelphia,  to  demand  from 
Congress  a  redress  of  their  grievances.  General  Wayne  overtook  them  on 
their  march,  and  obtained  a  formal  statement  of  their  claims,  which  were : 
That  many  soldiers  had  been  detained  beyond  the  term  of  their  enlistment ; 
that  the  arrearages  of  pay  and  the  depreciation  had  not  been  made  up ;  and 
that  they  were  suffering  every  privation  for  want  of  money  and  clothes.  The 
matter  was  referred  to  the  President  of  the  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  Joseph 
Eeed,  who,  in  conjunction  with  a  committee  appointed  by  Congress,  consist 
ing  of  General  Sullivan,  Mr.  Witherspoon,  and  Mr.  Mathews,  made  a  satis 
factory  agreement  with  the  soldiers  at  Trenton,  January  11.  Two  emissaries 
or  spies  sent  among  them  with  overtures  from  Sir  Henry  Clinton  were  given 
up,  tried  by  a  court-martial,  and  executed.  The  whole  affair  resulted  in  the 
disbanding  of  a  large  part  of  the  Pennsylvania  line  for  the  winter,  but  it 
was  recruited  in  the  spring  to  its  original  complement. 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  11. 

At  West  Point :  A  council  of  war  held  at  General  Heath's 
quarters,  to  consider  what  measures  were  necessary  to  be 
adopted  with  respect  to  the  Pennsylvania  line. 

11  January  llth. — Accounts  were  received  from  the  southward  that  the 
American  army  in  that  quarter  were  in  a  most  miserable  condition,  on  ac 
count  of  cloathing  and  provisions  and  that  their  sufferings  were  greater  than 
those  experienced  by  the  main  army." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

203 


204  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

MONDAY,  JANUARY  15. 

At  New  "Windsor:  "I  should  have  done  myself  the 
pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  letter  you  did 
me  the  favor  to  write  on  the  26th  of  December,  at  the 
moment  of  its  receipt,  had  not  some  affairs  of  a  very  un 
usual  nature,  which  are  too  recent  and  notorious  to  require 
explanation,  engaged  my  whole  attention.  I  pray  you  now 
to  be  persuaded,  that  a  sense  of  the  patriotic  exertions  of 
yourself  and  the  ladies  who  have  furnished  so  handsome 
and  useful  a  gratuity  for  the  army,  at  so  critical  and  severe 
a  season,  will  not  easily  be  effaced,  and  that  the  value  of 
the  donation  will  be  greatly  enhanced  by  a  consideration  of 
the  hands  by  which  it  was  made  and  presented." —  Washing 
ton  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Bache. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Bache,  daughter  of  Dr.  Franklin,  took  a  prominent  part  in 
carrying  out  the  plans  of  an  association  of  the  ladies  of  Philadelphia,  formed 
for  the  purpose  of  collecting  contributions  in  aid  of  the  soldiers.  The 
"handsome  and  useful  gratuity  for  the  army"  was  a  contribution  of  two 
thousand  and  five  shirts,  a  practical  application  of  funds  and  labor  highly 
creditable  to  its  members.  The  association  was  formed  in  the  summer  of 
1780,  and  on  July  4,  Mrs.  Joseph  Reed,  then  at  the  head  of  it,  but  who  died 
on  the  18th  of  September  following,  wrote  to  Washington  that  "200,580 
dollars,  and  £625.  6.  8d.  making  the  whole  in  paper  money  300,634  dollars," 
had  been  collected,  and  requesting  directions  how  best  to  dispose  of  it.  Of 
this  sum,  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette  contributed  one  hundred  guineas  in 
specie  in  the  name  of  his  wife,  and  the  Countess  de  Luzerne  six  thousand 
dollars  in  paper. 

MONDAY,  JANUARY  22. 

At  West  Point :  "  January  22d. — His  Excellency  Gen. 
Washington,  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  and  a  number  of 
French  gentlemen,  visited  the  Point." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

Count  Dumas,  aide  to  General  Rochambeau,  one  of  the  "  French  gentle 
men"  referred  to  by  General  Heath,  has  left  us  in  his  Memoirs  an  account 
of  the  return  of  the  party  to  New  Windsor:  "After  having  visited  the 
forts  and  reviewed  the  garrison,  as  the  day  was  declining,  and  we  were  going 
to  mount  our  horses,  the  General  perceived  that  M.  de  la  Fayette,  in  conse 
quence  of  his  old  wound  [received  at  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine],  was  very 
much  fatigued.  '  It  will  be  better,'  said  he,  '  to  return  by  water ;  the  tide 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  205 

will  assist  us  in  ascending  against  the  stream.'  A  boat  was  soon  manned 
with  good  rowers,  and  we  embarked.  The  cold  became  excessive ;  we  had 
to  make  our  way  between  the  large  flakes  of  ice  which  the  river  brought 
down.  A  heavy  snow  and  the  obscurity  of  the  night  soon  rendered  the 
danger  more  imminent  and  the  management  of  the  boat,  which  filled  with 
water,  became  increasingly  diflicult.  We  coasted  the  rocks  which  lined  the 
right  bank  of  the  Hudson,  between  West  Point  and  New  Windsor,  at  the 
foot  of  which  it  was  impossible  to  land.  General  Washington,  perceiving 
that  the  master  of  the  boat  was  very  much  alarmed,  took  the  helm,  saying 
'  Courage,  my  friends ;  I  am  going  to  conduct  you,  since  it  is  my  duty  to 
hold  the  helm.'  After  having  with  much  difficulty  made  our  way  against 
the  stream  and  the  ice,  we  landed,  and  had  to  walk  a  league  before  we 
reached  the  head- quarters. " 

TUESDAY,  JANUARY  30. 

At  New  Windsor :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  General  returns 
his  thanks  to  Major-Gen'l  Howe  for  the  judicious  measures 
he  pursued,  and  to  the  officers  and  men  under  his  command, 
for  the  good  conduct  and  alacrity  with  which  they  executed 
his  orders,  for  suppressing  the  late  mutiny  in  a  part  of  the 
New  Jersey  line." 

On  the  evening  of  January  20  the  New  Jersey  troops  stationed  at  Pomp- 
ton,  New  Jersey,  revolted,  their  demands  being  similar  to  those  of  the 
Pennsylvania  line.  By  order  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  a  detachment 
consisting  of  five  hundred  rank  and  file,  properly  officered,  from  the  Mas 
sachusetts,  Connecticut,  and  New  Hampshire  lines,  under  the  command  of 
Major-General  Robert  Howe,  marched  on  the  23d,  and  reached  Pompton 
on  the  27th.  His  instructions  were  to  grant  no  terms  while  the  revolted 
troops  were  with  arms,  and,  if  successful  in  compelling  a  surrender,  to 
instantly  execute  a  few  of  the  most  active  leaders.  The  mutineers  were 
disarmed,  three  of  the  ringleaders  shot,  and  order  restored.  Washington 
himself  went  to  Eingwood,  ten  miles  north  of  Pompton,  on  the  26th,  and 
remained  until  the  28th,  when  he  returned  to  head-quarters. 

SUNDAY,  FEBRUARY  4. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  The  measure  adopted  by  Congress 
of  appointing  Ministers  of  War,  Finance,  and  for  Foreign 
Affairs,  I  think  a  very  wise  one.  To  give  efficacy  to  it, 
proper  characters  will,  no  doubt,  be  chosen  to  conduct  the 
business  of  these  departments.  ...  I  am  pleased  to  hear 
that  Maryland  has  acceded  to  the  confederation,  and  that 


206  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

Virginia  has  relinquished  her  claim  to  the  Land  "West  of 
the  Ohio." — Washington  to  General  Sullivan. 

Maryland  had  steadily  refused  to  ratify  the  "Articles  of  Confederation," 
adopted  by  Congress,  November  15,  1777,  until  the  conflicting  claims  of  the 
Union  and  of  the  separate  States  to  the  crown- lands  should  be  adjusted. 
This  point  was  finally  settled  by  the  cession  of  the  claiming  States  to  the 
United  States  of  all  the  unsettled  and  unappropriated  lands  for  the  benefit 
of  the  whole  Union.  The  objection  of  Maryland  having  been  removed  by 
the  settlement  of  this  question,  her  delegates  signed  the  "  Articles  of  Con 
federation"  on  the  first  day  of  March,  1781.  By  this  act  of  Maryland,  all 
the  other  States  having  previously  ratified  the  Articles,  they  became  the 
organic  law  of  the  Union,  and  on  the  2d  of  March  Congress  assembled 
under  the  new  powers.  A  few  weeks  prior  to  this  date  Congress  had  intro 
duced  a  much-needed  reform  into  the  administration,  by  abolishing  the  sev 
eral  committees  and  boards  of  its  members,  on  whom  all  the  great  executive 
duties  had  heretofore  devolved.  On  January  10  an  oflice  for  the  Depart- 
men  of  Foreign  Affairs  was  established,  and  on  February  7  it  was  resolved  : 
"  That  there  be  a  superintendent  of  finance,  a  secretary  of  war,  and  a  sec 
retary  of  marine."  On  February  20,  Kobert  Morris  was  elected  Superin 
tendent  of  Finance;  on  the  27th,  Major-General  Alexander  McDougall, 
Secretary  of  Marine  ;  and  on  August  10,  Kobert  R.  Livingston,  Secretary 
for  Foreign  Affairs.  The  election  for  Secretary  of  War  did  not  take  place 
until  October  30,  when  Major-General  Benjamin  Lincoln  was  elected. 

SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  17. 

At  New  "Windsor :  "  General  Morgan's  signal  victory 
over  Colonel  Tarleton  and  the  flower  of  the  British  army 
[battle  of  Cowpens,  South  Carolina,  17th  January]  reflects 
the  highest  honor  upon  our  arms,  and  I  hope  will  at  least 
be  attended  with  this  advantage,  that  it  will  check  the 
offensive  operations  of  the  enemy,  until  General  Greene 
shall  have  collected  a  much  more  respectable  force  than  he 
had  under  his  command  by  the  last  accounts  from  him." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

TUESDAY,  FEBRUARY  20. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  I  have  ordered  a  detachment  to  be 
made  at  this  post,  to  rendezvous  at  Peekskill  on  the  19th 
instant,  which,  together  with  another  to  be  formed  at  Mor- 
ristown  from  the  Jersey  troops,  will  amount  to  about  twelve 


1781]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  207 

hundred  rank  and  file.  The  destination  of  this  detachment 
is  to  act  against  the  corps  of  the  enemy  now  in  Virginia,  in 
conjunction  with  the  militia,  and  some  ships  from  the  fleet 
of  the  Chevalier  Destouches,  which  he  informs  me  sailed 
the  9th  instant  from  Newport.  You  will  take  the  command 
of  this  detachment,  which  you  will  in  the  first  instance 
march  by  battalions  towards  Pompton,  there  to  rendezvous 
and  afterwards  to  proceed  with  all  possible  despatch  to  the 
Head  of  Elk.  .  .  .  When  the  object  of  the  detachment  is 
fulfilled  (or  unfortunately  disappointed),  you  will  return  to 
this  post  with  it  by  the  same  route,  if  circumstances  admit, 
and  with  as  much  expedition  as  possible." —  Washington  to 
the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

The  object  of  this  expedition  was  the  capture  of  Arnold,  who,  having 
been  made  a  brigadier-general  in  the  British  service,  was  then  in  Virginia, 
with  a  body  of  troops,  engaged  in  predatory  excursions,  inflicting  much 
injury  by  burning  and  pillage.  The  force  from  the  French  fleet  at  New 
port,  which  was  expected  to  support  Lafayette,  consisted  of  a  ship  of  the 
line  and  two  frigates  under  the  command  of  M.  de  Tilly,  who  entered  Chesa 
peake  Bay,  but  did  not  remain  for  fear  of  being  blockaded.  He  therefore 
put  to  sea,  and  arrived  at  Newport  a  few  days  after  the  detachment  had 
started. 

SATUKDAY,  FEBRUARY  24. 

At  New  "Windsor :  "  The  flattering  distinction  paid  to  the 
anniversary  of  my  birth-day  is  an  honor  for  which  I  dare 
not  attempt  to  express  my  gratitude.  I  confide  in  your 
excellency's  sensibility  to  interpret  my  feelings  for  this,  and 
for  the  obliging  manner  in  which  you  are  pleased  to  an 
nounce  it." — Washington  to  Count  de  Rochambeau. 

"Newport,  February  12,  1781. — Yesterday  [Sunday]  was  the  anniversary 
of  your  Excellency's  birth  day.  We  have  put  off  celebrating  that  holiday 
till  to-day,  by  reason  of  the  Lord's  day  and  we  will  celebrate  it  with  the 
sole  regret  that  your  Excellency  be  not  a  Witness  of  the  effusion  and  glad 
ness  of  our  hearts." — Rochambeau  to  Washington. 

The  celebration  is  said  to  have  consisted  of  a  parade  of  the  French  troops, 
the  firing  of  a  salute,  and,  in  honor  of  the  occasion,  a  suspension  of  further 
labors  for  the  day.  This  is,  probably,  the  earliest  public  recognition  of 


208  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1781 

Washington's  birthday.  It  was  held,  as  will  be  noted,  according  to  the 
Old  Style  of  computing  the  length  of  the  year. 

THURSDAY,  MAKCH  1. 

At  New  "Windsor :  "  I  have  just  received  letters  from  the 
Count  de  Rochambeau  and  the  Chevalier  Destouches,  in 
forming  me  of  their  intention  to  operate  in  the  Chesapeake 
Bay  with  their  whole  fleet,  and  a  detachment  of  eleven  hun 
dred  French  troops,  grenadiers  and  chasseurs  included. 
The  Chevalier  expects  to  sail  the  5th  of  this  month,  so  that 
you  will  arrive  at  the  Head  of  Elk,  before  he  appears  in  the 
Bay.  ...  I  shall  set  out  in  the  morning  for  Rhode  Island, 
where  I  hope  to  arrive  before  the  fleet  sails,  to  level  all 
difficulties  and  be  in  the  way  to  improve  circumstances." — 
Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  March,  Gen.  Washington  set  out  from 
New- Windsor,  for  Khode-Island." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

SUNDAY,  MAKCH  4. 

At  Hartford,  Connecticut:  "March  fourth — D.[ies] 
Dom.[inicus].  General  Washington  came  with  his  aids 

Col.  ,.  Col.  Tilgham  [Tilghman].      The  Genl  left  an 

order  for  a  General  Court  Martial  for  the  trial  of  Alexander 
McDowell  for  desertion — set  out  for  Newport — M.  Gen. 
Howe  with  him.  Col.  Trumbull  accompanied  them  to 
Lebanon." — Diary  of  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

MONDAY,  MAKCH  5. 

At  Lebanon,  Connecticut:  Reviews  the  Legion  of  the 
Duke  de  Lauzun,  in  quarters  at  Lebanon. 

TUESDAY,  MAKCH  6. 

At  Newport,  Rhode  Island :  "March  6th. — This  day  Gen 
eral  "Washington,  who  was  expected,  arrived  about  two 
o'clock.  He  first  went  [from  the  ferry  at  Jamestown,  by 
the  admiral's  barge]  to  the  Due  de  Bourgogne  [the  flag 
ship],  where  all  the  generals  were.  He  then  landed;  all 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  209 

the  troops  were  under  arms ;  I  was  presented  to  him.  His 
face  is  handsome,  noble  and  mild.  He  is  tall  (at  least,  five 
feet,  eight  inches).  In  the  evening  I  waa  at  supper  with 
him.  I  mark,  as  a  fortunate  day,  that  in  which  I  have  been 
able  to  behold  a  man  so  truly  great." — Diary  of  Claude 
Blanchard,  Commissary  of  the  French  army,  p.  93. 

"  Washington  landed  at  Barney's  Ferry — the  corner  of  the  Long  Wharf 
and  Washington  Street.  The  French  troops  formed  a  close  line,  three  deep 
on  either  side,  from  the  ferry  house  up  the  Long  Wharf  and  Washington 
Square  to  Clarke  Street,  where  it  turned  at  a  right  angle  and  continued  to 
Kochamheau's  head-quarters.  The  following  night  the  town  was  illumi 
nated.  At  that  time  the  inhabitants  were  poverty  stricken,  and  compara 
tively  few  were  able  to  take  part  in  the  joyful  ceremony  ;  but  that  all  should 
share  in  the  honors  paid  so  distinguished  a  visitor,  the  Town  Council 
ordered  that  candles  should  be  purchased,  and  given  to  all  who  were  too 
much  distressed,  through  continued  losses,  to  purchase  for  themselves  ;  so 
that  every  house  should  show  a  light.  The  procession  was  led  off  by  thirty 
boys,  bearing  candles  fixed  on  staffs,  followed  by  Gen.  Washington,  Count 
Rochambeau  and  the  other  officers,  their  aids  and  the  procession  of  citizens. 
The  night  was  clear,  and  there  was  not  a  breath  to  fan  the  torches.  The 
brilliant  procession  marched  through  the  principal  streets,  and  then  returned 
to  the  head-quarters.  On  reaching  the  door,  Washington  waited  on  the 
step  until  all  the  officers  and  their  friends  had  entered  the  house  ;  then, 
turning  to  the  boys  who  had  acted  as  torch-bearers  he  thanked  them  for 
their  attention.  This  was  glory  enough  for  the  young  patriots." — Newport 
Illustrated,  p.  36. 

WEDNESDAY,  MARCH  7. 

At  Newport:  Attends  a  ball  given  by  the  Count  de 
Rochambeau,  at  Mrs.  Cowley's  Assembly  Room,  and  opens 
it  by  request,  his  partner  being  Miss  Margaret  Champlin, 
afterwards  Mrs.  Dr.  Benjamin  Mason. 

"  The  dance  selected  by  his  partner  was  '  A  Successful  Campaign,'  then  in 
high  favor  ;  and  the  French  officers  took  the  instruments  from  the  musicians, 
and  played  while  he  danced  the  first  figure  with  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
and  fascinating  of  Newport's  many  belles." — Newport  Illustrated,  p.  44. 

THURSDAY,  MARCH  8. 

At  Newport :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from  the 
inhabitants  of  Newport.  Committee:  Christopher  Ellery, 

15 


210  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

"William  Charming,  William  Taggart,  and  Solomon  South- 
wick. 

"  I  found  myself  on  duty  all  of  last  week.  .  .  .  add  to  this  the  arrival  of 
the  celebrated  Washington  the  Atlas  of  your  country.  Our  army  received 
him  with  the  marks  of  distinction  due  to  his  rank  and  to  his  personal  quali 
ties  ;  we  had  not  eyes  enough  to  see  him  with.  Man  is  born  with  a  ten 
dency  to  pride  and  the  further  he  progresses  in  his  career  in  an  elevated  rank 
the  more  his  self  love  nourishes  this  vice  in  him  but  so  far  from  this  Wash 
ington  although  born  with  every  superior  quality  adds  to  them  an  imposing 
modesty  which  will  always  cause  him  to  be  admired  by  those  who  have  the 
good  fortune  to  see  him  ;  as  for  esteem  he  has  already  drawn  to  himself  that 
of  all  Europe  even  in  the  heart  of  his  enemies  and  ours  '  tandem  oculi 
nostri,  videuntur  honorem  et  virtutem.'  " — Chevalier  de  Silly  to  Solomon 
Drowne,  15th  March,  1781. 

SUNDAY,  MARCH  11. 

At  Newport :  "  I  informed  you  on  the  8th  in  the  evening, 
that  the  French  fleet  had  put  to  sea.  By  advices  from  New 
London,  the  British  did  the  same  yesterday  morning  with 
their  whole  force.  They  gave  out  publicly,  that  they  were 
bound  for  the  Chesapeake." — Washington  to  the  Marquis  de 
Lafayette. 

Washington  remained  at  Newport  until  the  13th,  and  was  the  recipient 
of  many  attentions  of  a  private  character  from  the  prominent  inhabitants 
of  the  town.  During  his  stay  he  was  the  guest  of  Count  de  Rochambeau, 
who  occupied  the  house  of  William  Vernon,  in  New  Lane,  No  302  (north 
east  corner  of  Mary  and  Clarke  Streets),  as  his  head-quarters. 

TUESDAY,  MARCH  13. 

Leaves  Newport :  Passes  through  Bristol,  Rhode  Island, 
and  arrives  at  Providence  in  the  evening. 

"  March  13,  1781. — General  Washington  passed  through  Bristol  on  his 
way  to  Providence.  When  the  news  of  his  approach  was  received,  a  com 
pany  of  inhabitants,  mounted  upon  horseback,  went  down  to  the  ferry  to 
meet  him,  and  to  escort  him  to  the  village.  Accompanied  by  his  aids,  he 
passed  directly  through  the  town,  riding  the  entire  length  of  Hope  Street. 
As  he  passed  State  Street,  a  salute  was  fired  in  front  of  the  Court  House, 
which  then  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  street.  When  he  passed  Bradford 
Street,  the  inhabitants,  clad  in  their  best  apparel,  stood  upon  either  side  of 
the  street,  being  divided  according  to  their  sexes,  and  as  he  passed,  showed 


1781]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  211 

their  respect  for  him  by  strewing  his  path  with  flowers,  evergreens,  etc., 
accompanied  with  the  highest  marks  of  civility.  "When  "Washington  reached 
the  Bridge  he  turned  to  the  inhabitants,  and  addressed  them  in  brief  but 
eloquent  manner,  returning  the  kindness  and  civility  which  had  been  shown 
him." — Munro's  History  of  Bristol,  p.  242. 

WEDNESDAY,  MAKCH  14. 

At  Providence,  Rhode  Island :  Receives  and  answers  an 
address  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  in  the  even 
ing  attends  a  military  ball. 

Count  Dumas  relates  in  his  Memoirs  the  following  interesting  story  of 
"Washington's  reception  at  Providence:  "After  having  conferred  with 
Count  Rochambeau,  as  he  [Washington]  was  leaving  us  to  return  to  his 
head-quarters  near  West  Point,  I  received  the  welcome  order  to  accompany 
him  as  far  as  Providence.  We  arrived  there  at  night  [March  13]  ;  the 
whole  of  the  population  had  assembled  from  the  suburbs,  we  were  surrounded 
by  a  crowd  of  children  carrying  torches,  reiterating  the  acclamations  of  the 
citizens ;  all  were  eager  to  approach  the  person  of  him  whom  they  called 
their  father,*  and  pressed  so  closely  around  us  that  they  hindered  us  from  pro 
ceeding.  General  Washington  was  much  affected,  stopped  a  few  moments, 
and  pressing  my  hand,  said,  '  We  may  be  beaten  by  the  English ;  it  is  the 
chance  of  war;  but  behold  an  army  which  they  can  never  conquer.'  " 

Both  Irving  and  Bancroft  refer  to  this  incident  as  having  occurred  on 
the  return  of  Washington  to  head-quarters  after  his  first  interview  with 
Rochambeau,  at  Hartford,  September  21,  1780,  six  months  earlier  in  time. 
The  text  of  Dumas  in  its  connection  is  confusing,  but  it  should  be  noted 
that  his  Memoirs  were  written  late  in  life,  when  the  memory  of  dates  and 
places  goes  easily  astray. 

THURSDAY,  MARCH  15. 

Leaves  Providence :  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  15th 
General  Washington  and  his  suite  continued  their  journey, 

*  The  earliest  application  of  the  epithet  "  Father  of  his  Country"  to 
Washington,  which  has  come  to  our  knowledge,  occurs  in  a  German  almanac, 
the  "  Nord  Americanische  Kalender,"  for  the  year  1779,  printed  at  Lan 
caster,  Pennsylvania.  The  frontispiece — of  the  full  size  of  the  page,  small 
quarto,  an  emblematic  design — presents  in  the  upper  portion  of  it  a  figure 
of  Fame,  with  a  trumpet  in  her  right  hand,  and  in  her  left  a  medallion  por 
trait,  laureated,  inscribed,  "  Waschington."  From  the  trumpet  proceed  the 
words,  "  Des  Landes  Vater," — the  FATHER  or  THE  COUNTRY. 


212  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

being  escorted  a  few  miles  from  the  town  by  a  civil  and 
military  cavalcade.  While  in  Providence  he  was  entertained 
at  the  house  of  the  Hon.  Jabez  Bowen. 

FRIDAY,  MAKCH  16. 

At  Hartford,  Connecticut :  General  Washington  arrived 
at  Hartford  on  the  evening  of  Friday,  March  16. 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  17. 

At  Hartford :  "  It  would  have  afforded  me  the  greatest 
pleasure,  had  I  been  able  to  extend  my  late  visit  to  Newport, 
as  far  as  Boston ;  but  the  important  operations,  which  may 
be  expected  at  the  southward,  made  it  necessary  for  me  to 
return  as  soon  as  possible  to  the  North  River." — Washington 
to  Governor  Hancock. 

"March  seventeenth.  Saturday — Dined  at  Mr.  Platt's  with  Gen.  Wash 
ington,  and  spent  the  afternoon — he  came  to  my  lodgings — communicated 
Mr.  Southwick  and  Com.  General's  letters — conversed  on  various  subjects." 
— Diary  of  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

SUNDAY,  MARCH  18. 

Leaves  Hartford :  "  Lord's  Day — March  eighteenth,  Gen 
eral  "Washington  came  on  Friday  night — went  out  this 
morning." — Diary  of  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

TUESDAY,  MARCH  20. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  March  20th. — In  the  afternoon,  Gen. 
Washington  arrived  at  head-quarters,  at  New- Windsor,  from 
the  eastward." — Heaths  Memoirs. 

WEDNESDAY,  MARCH  21. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  I  returned  to  this  place  yesterday  at 
noon.  I  did  not  prosecute  my  intention  of  visiting  Spring 
field,  as  I  wished  not  to  be  out  of  the  line  of  communication 
from  the  southward,  on  account  of  the  important  intelligence 
which  may  be  hourly  expected  from  that  quarter." —  Wash 
ington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 


1781]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  213 

"  To  the  Expenditures  on  a  journey  to  Rhode  Island,  on  a  visit  to  the  French 
army.  .  .  19, 848 J  Doll*  =To  Specie  Expenditures  on  this  journey — pr  My 
MemmB* — where  Paper  wd  not  pass.  .  .  £68.12.0." — Washington's  Accounts. 

THURSDAY,  MARCH  22. 

At  New  "Windsor:  "I  am  much  indebted  to  you  for 
announcing  my  election  as  a  member  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  I  feel  myself  particularly 
honored  by  this  relation  to  a  society,  whose  efforts  to  pro 
mote  useful  knowledge  will,  I  am  persuaded,  acquire  them 
a  high  reputation  in  the  literary  world." — Washington  to 
Joseph  Willard. 

MONDAY,  MARCH  26. 

At  New  "Windsor :  "  The  many  remarkable  interpositions 
of  the  divine  government,  in  the  hours  of  our  deepest  dis 
tress  and  darkness,  have  been  too  luminous  to  suffer  me  to 
doubt  the  happy  issue  of  the  present  contest ;  but  the  period 
for  its  accomplishment  may  be  too  far  distant  for  a  person 
of  my  years,  whose  morning  and  evening  hours,  and  every 
moment  (unoccupied  by  business),  pants  for  retirement,  and 
for  those  domestic  and  rural  enjoyments,  which  in  my  esti 
mation  far  surpass  the  highest  pageantry  of  this  world." — 
Washington  to  General  Armstrong. 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  31. 

At  New  Windsor:  "I  was  last  evening  honored  with 
your  favor  of  the  19th  instant  by  the  Hermione,  by  way  of 
Philadelphia,  and  with  a  duplicate  from  Newport.  I  am 
obliged  by  the  minute  detail  you  were  pleased  to  give  me 
of  the  action  on  the  16th  instant,  between  the  squadron  of 
his  Most  Christian  Majesty  under  your  command,  and  that 
of  the  British  under  Admiral  Arbuthnot." —  Washington  to 
the  Chevalier  Destouches. 

The  French  squadron  under  the  Chevalier  Destouches,  with  a  detachment 
of  troops,  sailed  from  Newport  for  the  Chesapeake  on  the  8th  of  March,  to 
co-operate  in  the  movement  of  Lafayette  against  Arnold.  They  were  pur 
sued  by  Admiral  Arbuthnot  and  forced  to  an  engagement,  in  which, 


214  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

though  the  honors  of  war  were  with  the  French,  some  of  their  vessels  suf 
fered  so  severely  that  they  were  obliged  to  return  to  Newport  to  repair 
damages.  Arbuthnot  made  all  speed  to  the  Chesapeake,  which  he  effect 
ually  blockaded.  Washington  wrote  to  Colonel  John  Laurens,  at  Paris, 
under  date  of  April  9:  "The  failure  of  this  expedition,  which  was  most 
flattering  in  the  commencement,  is  much  to  be  regretted :  because  a  success 
ful  blow  in  that  quarter  would,  in  all  probability,  have  given  a  decisive 
turn  to  our  aifairs  in  all  the  Southern  States  ;  because  it  has  been  attended 
with  considerable  expense  on  our  part,  and  much  inconvenience  to  the  State 
of  Virginia,  by  the  assembling  of  its  militia ;  because  the  world  is  disap 
pointed  at  not  seeing  Arnold  in  Gibbets." 

WEDNESDAY,  APKIL  4.* 

At  New  "Windsor :  "  General  Greene  has  had  a  general 
engagement  with  Lord  Cornwallis  [battle  of  Guilford  Court- 
House,  15th  March],  from  which,  though  he  suffered  a 
defeat,  he  might  ultimately  derive  advantages,  had  his  Lord 
ship  no  prospect  of  fresh  succours." — Washington  to  General 
Lincoln. 

The  battle  of  Guilford  Court-House,  North  Carolina,  was  one  of  the 
most  sanguinary  battles  of  the  war;  and,  although  the  enemy  remained 
masters  of  the  field,  their  army  was  too  much  shattered  to  resume  offensive 
operations.  After  issuing  a  proclamation  boasting  of  his  victory,  Cornwallis 
retired  to  Wilmington,  from  whence,  on  the  25th  of  April,  he  set  out  on 
his  fatal  march  into  Virginia. 

THUKSDAY,  APKIL  5. 

At  New  "Windsor :  "  While  we  lament  the  miscarriage 
of  an  enterprise,  which  hid  so  fair  for  success,  we  must  con 
sole  ourselves  in  the  thought  of  having  done  everything 
practicable  to  accomplish  it.  I  am  certain  that  the  Cheva 
lier  Destouches  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  to  gain  the 
Chesapeake.  The  point  upon  which  the  whole  turned,  the 
action  with  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  reflects  honor  upon  the 
Chevalier  and  upon  the  marine  of  France.  As  matters 
have  turned  out,  it  is  to  be  wished  that  you  had  not  gone 
out  of  the  Elk.  But  I  never  judge  of  the  propriety  of 

*  "April  4th. — Gen.  Washington  visited  West-Point." — Heath's    Me- 


tnoirs. 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  215 

measures  by  after  events.  Your  move  to  Annapolis,  at  the 
time  you  made  it,  was  certainly  judicious.  ...  I  imagine 
the  detachment  will  be  upon  its  march  this  way  before  this 
reaches  you." — Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

FRIDAY,  APRIL  6. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  I  have  communicated  to  the  general 
officers,  at  present  with  the  army,  my  sentiments  on  the 
subject;  and  they  are  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  the  de 
tachment  under  your  command  should  proceed  and  join  the 
southern  army.  .  .  .  You  will  therefore  immediately  on 
receipt  of  this,  turn  the  detachment  to  the  southward." — 
Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

At  the  time  of  receiving  this  order  Lafayette  was  at  the  Head  of  Elk, 
preparing  to  march  back  with  his  troops  to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  in 
pursuance  of  his  original  instructions.  He  immediately  turned  southward, 
and  when  the  detachment  reached  Baltimore,  finding  that  the  men  were 
suffering  for  the  want  of  suitable  clothing,  borrowed  money  on  his  own 
credit  to  supply  the  material.  After  being  joined  by  General  "Wayne 
(June  10),  with  about  one  thousand  of  the  Pennsylvania  line,  the  move 
ments  of  Lafayette  were  so  prudent  and  skilful  that  they  contributed  in  no 
slight  degree  to  the  success  of  the  campaign. 

SUNDAY,  APRIL  8. 

At  New  Windsor  :  "  Intelligence  has  been  sent  to  me,  by 
a  gentleman  living  near  the  enemy's  lines,  who  has  an 
opportunity  of  knowing  what  passes  among  them,  that  four 
parties  have  been  sent  out  with  orders  to  take  or  assassinate 
your  Excellency,  Governor  Clinton,  myself  and  a  fourth 
person,  whose  name  is  not  known." — Washington  to  Governor 
Livingston. 

"  This  kind  of  intelligence  was  not  uncommon.  It  was  probably  some 
times  sent  out  through  secret  channels  by  the  enemy,  with  the  view  of 
exciting  alarm  and  vigilance  at  certain  points,  when  they  wished  to  draw 
attention  away  from  others.  It  is  certain,  also,  that  plans  were  concerted 
for  seizing  the  principal  persons  among  the  Americans.  On  one  or  two 
occasions  Governor  Livingston  narrowly  escaped.  One  of  the  spies,  who 
came  out  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  proposition  to  the  Pennsylvania  mu 
tineers,  declared  after  he  was  taken,  and  repeated  it  at  the  time  of  his  exe- 


216  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1781 

cution,  that  he  knew  a  party  who  had  formed  a  scheme  to  seize  General 
Washington,  and  he  pretended  to  reveal  the  manner  in  which  they  pro 
posed  to  carry  it  into  effect." — Sparks,  vii.  472. 

THURSDAY,  APRIL  26. 

At  West  Point:  "April  26th. — Gen.  Washington  visited 
"West  Point  and  Monsieur  Seville,  Quarter-Master  of  the 
French  army  at  Newport." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

MONDAY,  APRIL  30. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  of  your  lose. 
I  am  a  little  sorry  to  hear  of  my  own ;  but  that  which  gives 
me  most  concern  is,  that  you  should  go  on  board  the 
enemy's  vessels,  and  furnish  them  with  refreshments.  It 
would  have  been  a  less  painful  circumstance  to  me  to  have 
heard,  that  in  consequence  of  your  non-compliance  with 
their  request,  they  had  burnt  my  house  and  laid  the  planta 
tion  in  ruins.  You  ought  to  have  considered  yourself  as 
my  representative,  and  should  have  reflected  on  the  bad 
example  of  communicating  with  the  enemy,  and  making 
a  voluntary  offer  of  refreshments  to  them  with  a  view  to 
prevent  a  conflagration." —  Washington  to  Lund  Washington. 

During  an  expedition  by  General  Phillips,  up  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and 
its  principal  rivers,  in  the  early  part  of  April,  one  of  his  smaller  vessels 
ascended  the  Potomac  and  menaced  Mount  Vernon.  Lund  Washington, 
who  had  charge  of  the  estate,  met  the  flag  which  the  enemy  sent  on  shore, 
and  saved  the  property  from  ravage  by  furnishing  the  vessel  with  provisions. 
Washington's  decided  disapproval  of  this  action  is  pretty  conclusively  con 
veyed  in  the  letter  from  which  the  above  extract  is  made.  Lund  Wash 
ington,  manager  of  the  Mount  Vernon  estate  from  1760  to  1785,  was  a 
great-grandson  of  Lawrence  Washington,  brother  of  John  Washington,  the 
great-grandfather  of  General  Washington ;  this  made  them  cousins  in  the 
third  remove.  He  was  born  October  21,  1737,  and  died  in  July,  1796.  His 
own  plantation,  "  Hayfield,"  was  about  four  miles  from  Mount  Vernon. 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  9. 

At  West  Point :  " May  9th.— Went  to  the  Posts  at  West 
Point,  and  found  by  enquiry  of  General  Heath  that  all  the 
meal  [meat  ?]  deposited  in  the  advanced  redoubts  for  con- 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  217 

tingent  purposes  would  not,  if  served  out,  serve  the  army 
two  days." —  Washington's  Journal. 

On  May  1,  1781,  Washington  began  "A  Concise  Journal  of  Military 
Transactions,"  the  original  manuscript  of  which  is  preserved  in  the  library 
of  the  Department  of  State,  at  Washington,  D.C.  The  journal  ending 
November  5  was  printed  in  the  Magazine  of  American  History  for  1881, 
and  from  this  our  extracts  are  made.  The  following,  from  the  prefatory 
note,  exhibits  in  a  striking  manner  the  condition  of  the  army  at  the  time, 
and  th«,  prospects  of  the  campaign :  "  Instead  of  having  magazines  filled 
with  provisions,  we  have  a  scanty  pittance  scattered  here  and  there  in  the 
different  States — Instead  of  having  our  arsenals  well  supplied  with  military 
stores,  they  are  poorly  provided,  and  the  workmen  all  leaving  them — In 
stead  of  having  the  various  articles  of  Field  equipage  in  readiness  to  deliver, 
the  Quartermaster-General  (as  the  denier  resort,  according  to  his  acct.)  is 
but  now  applying  to  the  several  States  to  provide  these  things  for  their 
troops  respectively.  Instead  of  having  a  regular  system  of  transportation 
upon  credit — or  funds  in  the  Quartermaster's  hands  to  defray  the  contingent 
Expences  of  it,  we  have  neither  the  one  nor  the  other ;  and  all  that  business, 
or  a  great  part  of  it  being  done  by  military  Impress,  we  are  daily  and 
hourly  oppressing  the  people, — souring  their  tempers,  and  alienating  their 
affection — Instead  of  having  the  Kegiments  compleated  to  the  new  estab 
lishment  (and  which  ought  to  have  been  so  by  the  — of agreeable  to  the 

requisitions  of  Congress),  scarce  any  state  in  the  Union  has,  at  this  hour,  an 
eighth  part  of  its  quota  in  the  field — and  little  prospect,  that  I  can  see,  of 
ever  getting  more  than  half. — In  a  word — instead  of  having  everything  in 
readiness  to  take  the  Field,  we  have  nothing — and  instead  of  having  the 
prospect  of  a  glorious  offensive  campaign  before  us,  we  have  a  bewildered 
and  gloomy  defensive  one — unless  we  should  receive  a  powerful  aid  of  ships 
— Land  Troops — and  money  from  our  generous  allies — &  these,  at  present, 
are  too  contingent  to  build  upon." 

FKIDAY,  MAY  11. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  My  public  letters  to  Congress  will 
have  informed  you  of  the  situation  of  this  army,  and  I  have 
no  scruple  in  giving  it  as  my  decided  opn.,  that,  unless  a 
capital  change  takes  place  soon,  it  will  be  impossible  for  me 
to  maintain  our  Posts,  and  keep  the  army  from  dispersing." 
—  Washington  to  General  Sullivan. 

MONDAY,  MAY  14. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  I  have  had  the  honor  of  receiving 
your  Excellency's  letter  of  the  llth  instant.  Give  me  leave 


218  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

to  congratulate  you  on  your  safe  arrival,  and  your  appoint 
ment  to  the  command  of  his  Most  Christian  Majesty's  fleet 
and  sea  forces  upon  these  coasts.  ...  I  have  appointed 
Monday,  the  21st  of  this  month,  for  the  time  of  our  inter 
view  at  Weathersfield." —  Washington  to  Count  de  Barms. 

"Newport,  May  llth. — I  have  the  honor  to  announce  to  your  Excellency 
my  arrival  at  Boston,  on  the  6th  of  this  month,  in  the  frigate  Concord  ;  the 
King  having  appointed  me  to  the  command  of  his  squadron  in  these  seas. 
I  arrived  here  yesterday.  The  Count  de  Rochambeau  has  communicated  to 
me  the  letter,  which  he  had  the  honor  to  write  to  your  Excellency,  request 
ing  an  interview.  When  he  shall  receive  your  answer,  we  will  conform  to 
your  decision.  I  am  very  impatient  to  have  the  honor  of  making  an  ac 
quaintance  with  you,  and  to  assure  you  that  I  have  nothing  so  much  at  heart 
as  to  render  myself  serviceable  to  the  King  and  to  the  United  States." — 
Count  de  Barras  to  Washington. 

Count  de  Barras  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  Admiral  de  Ternay,  which  occurred  at  Newport,  December  15,  1780. 
During  the  interval  the  command  of  the  squadron  had  devolved  on  the 
Chevalier  Destouches. 

TUESDAY,  MAY  15. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  For  the  honor  conferred  on  me  by 
the  President  and  Fellows  of  the  University  of  Yale  Col 
lege,  by  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws,  my  warmest  thanks 
are  offered;  and  the  polite  manner,  in  which  you  are 
pleased  to  request  my  acceptance  of  this  distinguished  mark 
of  their  favor,  demands  my  grateful  acknowledgments." — 
Washington  to  Ezra  Styles,  President  of  Yale  College. 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  16. 

At  West  Point :  " May  16th.— Went  to  the  Posts  at  West 
Point — received  a  particular  acct.  of  the  surprize  of  Colo 
Greene  &  the  loss  we  sustained." —  Washington's  Journal. 

Colonel  Christopher  Greene,  of  Khode  Island,  in  command  of  an  outpost 
on  the  Croton  Kiver,  not  far  from  Pine's  Bridge,  was  surprised  early  in  the 
morning  of  the  13th  by  a  band  of  Tories  under  Colonel  Delancey.  "  They 
first  attacked  Col.  Greene's  and  Major  Flagg's  quarters,  and  killed  the  Major 
when  in  bed.  The  Colonel  being  badly  wounded  in  the  house,  was  carried 
into  the  woods  and  barbarously  murdered  [Thacher']."  Greene,  in  the 
words  of  Irving,  was  "  a  true  soldier  of  the  Revolution ;  he  had  served  at 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  219 

Lexington  and  Bunker's  Hill ;  followed  Arnold  through  the  Kennebec 
wilderness  to  Quebec  fought  under  the  walls  of  that  city  ;  distinguished 
himself  by  his  defence  of  Fort  Mercer  on  the  Delaware,  and  by  his  kind 
treatment  of  his  vanquished  and  wounded  antagonist,  Colonel  Donop.  How 
different  the  treatment  experienced  by  him  at  the  hands  of  his  tory  country- 


THUKSDAY,  MAY  17. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  The  Count  de  Rochambeau  having 
received  despatches  from  the  court  of  France  by  his  son, 
the  Viscount  de  Rochambeau,  on  the  6th  instant,  has  re 
quested  an  interview  with  me.  I  have  appointed  the  place 
of  meeting  at  Weathersfield,  on  Monday  next,  for  which 
purpose  I  shall  set  out  hence  to-morrow.  I  am  in  hopes, 
that  we  shall  be  able,  from  the  intelligence  received,  to 
settle  a  definitive  plan  of  the  campaign." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

At  the  Hartford  conference  (September  21,  1780)  it  had  been  decided  to 
send  a  trusty  messenger  to  the  French  court  to  hasten  the  despatch  of  re 
inforcements,  and  the  Viscount  de  Kochambeau,  who  was  serving  on  the  staff 
of  bis  father,  was  selected  for  the  mission.  The  viscount  reached  Boston 
on  his  return,  May  6,  bringing  news  of  the  sailing  from  Brest,  on  March  22, 
of  the  Count  de  Grasse  with  a  strong  squadron  escorting  a  convoy  of  trans 
ports,  laden  with  supplies.  All  the  restrictions  imposed  upon  the  Count  de 
Kochambeau  by  De  Sartine,  the  former  Minister  of  Marine,  had  also  been 
removed,  the  new  ministry  giving  him  full  power  to  act  as  he  thought  best. 

FRIDAY,  MAY  18. 

Leaves  New  Windsor :  "  May  18th. — Set  out  this  day  for 
the  Interview  at  Weathersfield  with  the  Count  de  Rocham 
beau  &  Admiral  Barras. — reached  Morgans  Tavern  43  miles 
from  Fishkill  Landing  after  dining  at  Colo.  Yandebergs." 
—  Washington's  Journal. 

SATURDAY,  MAY  19. 

At  Wethersfield,  Connecticut :  "  May  19th. — Breakfasted 
at  Litchfield — dined  at  Farmington — &  lodged  at  Wethers- 
field  at  the  House  of  Joseph  Webb  Esqr.  (the  Quarters  wch 
were  taken  for  me  and  my  suit)." —  Washington's  Journal. 


220  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

"  Hartford,  May  29,  1781.— On  Saturday  the  19th  inst.  his  excellency 
General  Washington,  accompanied  by  Gen.  Knox,  Gen.  Du  Portail,  and 
their  respective  suites,  arrived  at  Wethersfield  ;  being  escorted  into  town  by 
a  number  of  gentlemen  from  Hartford  and  Wethersfleld.  As  he  dismounted 
at  his  quarters  he  was  saluted  by  the  discharge  of  thirteen  cannon,  by  the 
corps  of  artillery,  under  the  command  of  Cap.  Frederick  Bull.  On  Mon 
day  the  21st  inst.  his  excellency  the  Count  de  Rochambeau.  commanding 
the  army  of  his  most  Christian  Majesty  at  Newport,  Gen.  Chatteleu,  and 
their  suites,  arived  at  Wethersfield.  They  were  met  at  Hartford,  by  his 
excellency  General  Washington,  the  officers  of  the  army,  and  a  number  of 
gentlemen,  who  accompanied  them  to  Wethersfield,  where  they  were  saluted 
with  the  discharge  of  cannon.  Every  mark  of  attention  and  politeness  were 
shewn  their  excellencies,  and  the  other  gentlemen  of  the  allied  armies  while 
attending  the  convention." — Connecticut  Historical  Collections,  p.  65. 

SUNDAY,  MAY  20. 

At  Wethersfield :  "  May  20th. — Had  a  good  deal  of  private 
conversation  with  Govr  Trumbull  who  gave  it  to  me  as  his 
opinion  that  if  any  important  offensive  operation  should  be 
undertaken  he  had  little  doubt  of  our  obtaining  Men  & 
Provision  adequate  to  our  wants." — Washington's  Journal. 

"  Lord's  Day,  May  twentieth. — Went  with  Capt.  Fred.  Bull  in  a  carriage 
to  Wethersfeld — attended  divine  service  with  General  Washington  per  tot 
diem.  Mr.  Marsh  preached.  Mat.  7  :  8 — blessed  are  the  poor  of  spirit,  for 
theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  Heaven." — Diary  of  Jonathan  Trumbull. 

MONDAY,  MAY  21. 

At  Wethersfield:  "  May  21st— The  Count  de  Rocham 
beau  with  the  Chevr  de  Chastellux  arrived  about  noon — the 
appearance  of  the  British  fleet  (under  Adml  Arbuthnot) 
off  Block  Island  prevented  the  attendance  of  the  Count  de 
Barras." — Washington's  Journal. 

TUESDAY,  MAY  22. 

At  Wethersfield :  "  May  22d.— Fixed  with  Count  de  Ro 
chambeau  upon  a  plan  of  Campaign — in  substance  as  fol 
lows — That  the  French  Land  force  (except  200  men)  should 
march  so  soon  as  the  Squadron  could  sail  for  Boston — to 
the  North  River — &  there,  in  conjunction  with  the  Ameri 
can,  to  commence  an  operation  against  New  York.  ...  or 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  221 

to  extend  our  views  to  the  Southward  as  circumstances  and 
a  naval  superiority  might  render  more  necessary  and  eli- 
gable." —  Washington's  Journal. 

"  Tuesday,  twenty-second.  Fair — dined  with  General  Washington,  Ro- 
chambeau  &c.  at  Stillman's." — Diary  of  Jonathan  TrumbuIL 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  23. 

At  Wethersfield :  "  May  23d. — Count  de  Rochambeau  set 
out  on  his  return  to  Newport,  while  I  prepared  and  for 
warded  dispatches  to  the  Governors  of  the  four  New  England 
states  calling  upon  them  in  earnest  &  pointed  terms,  to  com- 
pleat  their  Continental  Battalions  for  the  Campaign." — 
Washington's  Journal. 

"  Wednesday,  twenty-third.  Fair — dined  at  Colyer's  with  the  Generals 
—supra  public  expense.  Guards — Artillery." — Diary  of  Jonathan  Trum- 
bull. 

THURSDAY,  MAY  24. 

Leaves  Wethersfield :  "  May  24th. — Set  out  on  my  return 
to  New  Windsor — dined  at  Farmington  and  lodged  at 
Litchfield." —  Washington's  Journal. 

FRIDAY,  MAY  25. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  May  25th. — Breakfasted  at  Squire 
Cogswells — dined  at  Colo.  Vandeburgs  &  reached  head 
Quarters  about  sunset.  " —  Washington's  Journal. 

"  To  the  Expence  of  a  Journey  to  Weathersfield  for  the  purpose  of  an 
Interview  with  the  French  Gen1.  &  Adm.  .  .  8376J  Doll".  .  .  To  Specie 
expended  in  this  Trip.  .  .  £35.18.0." — Washington's  Accounts. 

SATURDAY,  MAY  26. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  May  26th. — Received  a  Letter  from 
the  Honble  Jno.  Laurens  minister  from  the  United  States 
of  America  at  the  Court  of  Versailles — informing  me  that 
the  sum  of  6,000,000  of  Livres  was  granted  as  a  donation 
to  this  country — to  be  applied  in  part  to  the  purchase  of 


222  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1781 

arms — cloaths — &c.  for  the  American  Troops  and  the  bal- 
lance  to  my  orders." — Washington's  Journal. 

The  provision  of  this  donation,  that  the  balance,  after  paying  for  the 
military  articles  purchased  in  Europe  should  be  subject  to  the  order  of  the 
Commander-in-Chief,  aroused  the  jealousy  of  Congress,  the  members  of 
which  were  not  satisfied  that  the  head  of  the  army  should  possess  such  an 
agent,  in  addition  to  his  military  power.  But  fortunately  M.  de  la  Luzerne 
discovered  in  Count  de  Vergennes's  letter  to  him,  that  General  Washington, 
"  or  some  other  person,"  was  indicated.  The  knowledge  of  this  fact  quieted 
the  anxieties  of  Congress  and  relieved  Washington  from  a  task  which  he 
had  no  desire  to  perform  and  which  would  have  excited  the  jealousy  of  his 
enemies.  Prior  to  this  date,  France  had  donated  to  the  United  States  the 
sum  of  three  millions  of  livres,  making,  with  the  six  millions  mentioned 
above,  nine  millions  in  all,  or  about  one  million  eight  hundred  thousand 
dollars. 

FKIDAY,  JUNE  15. 

At  New  Windsor:  Issues  an  order,  congratulating  the 
army  on  the  successes  of  the  American  arms  under  General 
Greene  in  South  Carolina,  reciting  the  forced  evacuation  of 
Camden  by  Lord  Rawdon,  the  surrender  of  Orangeburgh 
to  General  Sumter,  of  Fort  Mott  to  General  Marion,  and 
Fort  Granby  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lee;  and  declaring 
these  brilliant  successes  to  be  a  presage  that,  with  proper 
exertions,  the  enemy  would  soon  be  expelled  from  every 
part  of  the  continent. 

MONDAY,  JUNE  18. 

At  New  Windsor :  "  June  18th. — Brigaded  the  Troops, 
and  made  an  arrangement  of  the  army,  which  is  to  march 
for  the  new  Camp  in  three  divisions — the  1st  on  Thursday 
the  21st— the  2d  on  the  23d.— and  the  3d  on  the  24th.  inst." 

—  Washington's  Journal. 

"  June  23d. — The  army  is  now  concentrated  to  a  point  in  this  place  [near 
Peekskill],  and  encamped  in  two  lines,  and  in  the  same  regular  order  that 
the  troops  usually  form  in  a  line  of  battle,  occupying  a  very  large  extent  of 
ground  and  covering  fields  of  corn,  grain  and  meadows.  Our  brigade  is 
stationed  on  the  left  of  the  second  line.  The  campaign  is  now  about  to  be 
opened,  and  we  expect  in  a  few  days  that  the  French  Army  will  form  a  junc 
tion  with  us  to  co-operate  with  our  troops." — Tkacher's  Military  Journal. 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  223 

MONDAY,  JUNE  25. 

At  Peekskill :  "June  25th. — Joined  the  army  at  its  En 
campment  at  Peekskill — Mrs.  Washington  set  out  at  the 
same  time  towards  Virginia.  .  .  .  Had  an  interview  with 
Govr.  Clinton,  Lieut.  Govr  Courtlandt  &  Generals  Schuyler 
&  Tenbrook." — Washington's  Journal. 

"  The  Van  Cortlandt  House,  two  miles  east  of  Peekskill,  erected  in  1773, 
in  the  midst  of  one  of  the  fine  estates  of  that  family,  was  occupied  by 
Washington,  for  a  brief  space,  as  head-quarters." — Lossing's  Field-Book,  i. 
738. 

TUESDAY,  JUNE  26. 

At  Peekskill:  Orderly  Book.  —  "The  Commander- in  - 
Chief  has  the  pleasure  of  announcing  to  the  army  the  ap 
proach  of  the  troops  of  his  most  Christian  Majesty  under 
the  command  of  his  Excellency  Lieutenant-General  Count 
de  Rochambeau." 

THURSDAY,  JUNE  28. 

At  Peekskill :  "  I  am  extremely  obliged  to  you  for  the 
assistance  you  have  already  afforded  us  in  the  article  of 
flour.  "Without  that  aid,  we  should  have  been  already  dis 
tressed  ;  and  I  must  confess  to  you,  that  I  see  no  prospect 
of  being  supplied,  but  through  your  means,  as,  by  the  last 
letters  from  the  President  and  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  I 
could  expect  little  or  nothing  from  that  quarter." — Wash 
ington  to  Eobert  Morris. 

"  Not  being  prepared  in  my  official  character  with  funds  or  means  of  ac 
complishing  the  supplies  you  need,  I  have  written  to  General  Schuyler  and 
to  Mr.  Thomas  Lowrey  in  New  Jersey,  requesting  their  immediate  exer 
tions  to  procure  upon  their  own  credit  one  thousand  barrels  of  flour  each, 
and  send  the  same  forward  in  parcels  as  fast  as  procured  to  camp,  deliver 
able  to  your  Excellency's  order;  and  I  have  pledged  myself  to  pay  them  in 
hard  money  for  the  costs  and  charges,  within  a  month,  six  weeks,  or  two 
months.  I  shall  make  it  a  point  to  procure  the  money,  being  determined 
never  to  make  an  engagement  that  cannot  be  fulfilled  ;  for  if  by  any  means 
I  should  fail  in  this  respect,  I  will  quit  my  office  as  useless  from  that 
moment." — Robert  Morris  to  Washington,  May  29. 


224  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1781 

FRIDAY,  JUNE  29. 

At  Peekskill :  "  On  the  29th  [of  June],  I  got  on  horse- 
back  to  see  some  barracks  which  had  been  occupied  by  an 
American  regiment  during  the  winter ;  my  purpose  was  to 
establish  a  hospital  there.  On  the  road  I  met  General 
"Washington,  who  was  going  to  review  a  part  of  his  troops. 
He  recognized  me,  stopped  and  invited  me  to  dine  with  him 
at  three  o'clock.  I  repaired  thither;  there  were  twenty- 
five  covers  used  by  some  officers  of  the  army  and  a  lady  to 
whom  the  house  belonged  in  which  the  general  lodged. 
We  dined  under  the  tent.  I  was  placed  alongside  of  the 
general.  One  of  his  aides-de-camp  did  the  honors.  The 
table  was  served  in  the  American  style  and  pretty  abun 
dantly  :  vegetables,  roast  beef,  lamb,  chickens,  salad  dressed 
with  nothing  but  vinegar,  green  peas,  puddings  and  some 
pie,  a  kind  of  tart,  greatly  in  use  in  England  and  among  the 
Americans,  all  this  being  put  upon  the  table  at  the  same 
time.  They  gave  us  on  the  same  plate  beef,  green  peas, 
lamb,  &c." — Diary  of  Claude  Blanchard,  p.  115. 

SATURDAY,  JUNE  30. 

At  Peekskill :  "  In  the  fullest  confidence  I  inform  you, 
that  I  intend  to  make  an  attempt  by  surprise  upon  the  ene 
my's  posts  on  the  north  end  of  York  Island  on  Monday 
night." —  Washington  to  Governor  Clinton. 

MONDAY,  JULY  2. 

On  the  march  to  Valentine's  Hill :  "  July  2d. — At  three 
o'clock  this  morning  I  commenced  my  march  with  the  Con 
tinental  Army  in  order  to  cover  the  detached  Troops — and 
improve  any  advantages  which  might  be  gained  by  them — 
made  a  small  halt  at  the  New  bridge  over  Croton  abt.  9 
miles  from  Peekskill — another  at  the  Church  by  Tarry 
Town  till  Dusk  (9  miles  more)  and  compleated  the  remain 
ing  part  of  the  mar[ch]  in  the  night — arriving  at  Valentine's 
Hill  (at  Mile  square)  about  sunrise.  Our  Baggage  &  Tents 


1781]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  225 

were  left  standing  at  the  Camp  at  Peekskill." — Washington's 
Journal. 

The  French  army  left  Newport  June  9,  and  after  halting  at  Providence 
eight  days,  again  took  up  the  line  of  march,  passing  through  Plainfield, 
Windham,  Bolton,  Hartford,  Farmington,  Newtown,  and  Ridgebury,  Con 
necticut,  arriving  at  Bedford,  New  York,  on  July  2.  From  the  latter 
place,  the  legion  of  Lauzun  made  a  forced  march  in  advance  and  reached 
East  Chester  very  early  in  the  morning  of  July  3. 


TUESDAY,  JULY  3. 

At  Valentine's  Hill :  "  July  3d. — I  spent  good  part  of  the 
day  in  reconnoitering  the  Enemys  works. — In  the  afternoon 
we  retired  to  Valentine's  Hill  [four  miles  from  Kingsbridge] 
&  lay  upon  our  arms — Duke  Lauzen  &  Waterbury  lay  on 
the  East  Side  of  the  Brunx  river  on  the  East  Chester  road." 
—  Washington's  Journal. 

"  Valentine's  Hill,  eight  o'clock,  P.M.,  3  July,  1781. — The  operations  of 
this  day  are  over,  and  I  am  sorry  to  say,  that  I  have  not  had  the  happiness 
to  succeed  to  my  wishes,  although  I  think  very  essential  benefit  will  result 
to  our  future  operations  from  the  opportunity  I  have  had,  in  a  very  full 
manner,  to  reconnoitre  the  position  and  works  of  the  enemy  on  the  north 
end  of  York  Island.  .  .  .  The  American  army  and  the  Legion  of  the  Duke 
de  Lauzun  will  march  to-morrow  to  White  Plains.  If  it  will  be  convenient 
to  you,  I  shall  be  happy  to  receive  your  Excellency  with  your  troops  at 
that  place  the  day  after  to-morrow." — Washington  to  Count  de  Rochambeau. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  4. 

Near  Dobbs'  Ferry,  Phillipsburg :  "  July  4th. — Marched  & 
took  a  position  a  little  to  the  left  of  Dobbs  ferry  &  marked 
a  Camp  for  the  French  Army  upon  our  left. — Duke  Lauzen 
marched  to  the  White  pin.  &  Waterbury  to  Horseneck." — 
Washington's  Journal. 

"North  Castle,  July  4th. — I  arrived  here  with  the  first  brigade  yesterday 
at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  second  brigade,  by  a  forced  march, 
joined  me  in  the  afternoon ;  and  we  are  now  all  together  ready  to  execute 
your  orders.  I  wait  with  the  greatest  impatience  to  hear  from  you  and  the 
Duke  de  Lauzun." — Rochambeau  to  Washington. 

16 


226  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

THUKSDAY,  JULY  5. 

Visits  the  French  army  at  North  Castle  :  "  July  5. — Gen 
eral  Washington  came  to  see  M.  de  Rochambeau.  Notified 
of  his  approach,  we  mounted  our  horses  and  went  out  to 
meet  him.  He  received  us  with  the  affability  which  is 
natural  to  him  and  depicted  on  his  countenance.  He  is  a 
very  fine  looking  man,  but  did  not  surprise  me  as  much  as 
I  expected  from  the  descriptions  I  had  heard  of  him.  His 
physiognomy  is  noble  in  the  highest  degree,  and  his  man 
ners  are  those  of  one  perfectly  accustomed  to  society,  quite 
a  rare  thing  certainly  in  America.  He  paid  a  visit  to  our 
camp,  dined  with  us,  and  later  we  escorted  him  several 
miles  on  his  return  and  took  leave  of  him." — Diary  of  Baron 
Cromot  du  Bourg,  Magazine  of  American  History,  iv. 

On  the  6th  of  July  the  French  troops  broke  camp  at  North  Castle  and 
marched  to  make  a  junction  with  the  main  body  of  the  American  army  at 
Phillipsburg,  twelve  miles  from  Kingsbridge.  The  junction  was  made  in 
the  evening,  on  the  grounds  which  had  been  marked  out  on  the  left  of  the 
American  lines,  the  right  of  which  rested  on  the  Hudson,  near  Dobbs'  Ferry. 
The  line  of  the  French  army  extended  to  the  Brunx  Kiver,  with  a  valley  of 
considerable  extent  between  the  two  armies,  "Washington  made  his  head 
quarters  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Appleby,  the  "  Appleby  Place,"  on  the 
cross-road  from  Dobbs'  Ferry  to  White  Plains,  and  about  three  and  a  half 
miles  from  the  ferry.  The  house,  which  was  destroyed  some  years  ago, 
stood  on  a  little  elevation,  still  called  Washington's  Hill.  Kochambeau's 
quarters  were  at  the  Odell  house,  still  standing,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  east 
of  the  "  Appleby  Place." 

FKIDAY,  JULY  6. 

At  Phillipsburg :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander-in- 
chief  with  pleasure  embraces  the  earliest  public  opportunity 
of  expressing  his  thanks  to  his  Excellency,  the  Count  de 
Rochambeau,  for  the  unremitting  zeal  with  which  he  has 
prosecuted  his  march,  in  order  to  form  the  long  wished-for 
junction  between  the  French  and  American  forces;  an 
event,  which  must  afford  the  highest  degree  of  pleasure  to 
every  friend  of  his  country,  and  from  which  the  happiest 
consequences  are  to  be  expected." 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  227 

SATURDAY,  JULY  7. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "July  7th. — Our  army  was  drawn  up  in 
a  line  and  reviewed  by  General  Rochambeau,  Commander 
in  Chief  of  the  French  army,  with  his  Excellency  General 
Washington,  and  other  general  officers." — Thacher's  Military 
Journal. 

SUNDAY,  JULY  8. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "  July  8. — In  the  afternoon  of  the  8th 
General  "Washington  reviewed  the  two  armies;  we  went 
first  to  the  American  army,  which  may  have  amounted  to 
four  thousand  and  some  hundred  men  at  the  most.  It 
seemed  to  me  to  be  in  as  good  order  as  possible  for  an  army 
composed  of  men  without  uniforms  and  with  narrow  re 
sources.  The  Rhode  Island  regiment,  among  others,  is  ex 
tremely  fine.  We  went  thence  to  the  French  army,  which, 
though  unpretending,  has  quite  another  style.  The  Ameri 
cans  admit  it ;  they  all  seemed  to  be  delighted  as  well  as 
their  General." — Diary  of  Baron  Cromot  du  Bourg. 

"July  9th. — Received  a  Letter  from  the  Marqs  de  la  Fayette  informing 
me  of  Cornwallis's  retreat  to  Williamsburg." — Washington's  Journal. 

TUESDAY,  JULY  10. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "  July  10th. — Another  review  took  place 
in  presence  of  the  French  ambassador,  from  Philadelphia, 
after  which  the  French  army  passed  a  review  in  presence 
of  the  general  officers  of  both  armies." — Thacher's  Military 
Journal. 

"  The  heat  was  excessive  ;  it  was  not  moderated  until  the  10th  by  a  great 
rain  which  lasted  all  night  and  passed  through  all  the  tents.  I  dined  that 
day  at  the  intendant's  [M.  de  Tarle]  with  General  Washington.  He  was 
rather  grave ;  it  was  said  that  there  had  been  a  little  misunderstanding 
between  him  and  General  Rochambeau.  General  Washington's  army  was 
encamped  near  ours  ;  it  was  about  4000  men. ' ' — Diary  of  Claude  Blanchard, 
p.  120. 

SATURDAY,  JULY  14. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "  July  14. — I  went  with  M.  de  Rocham- 


228  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON:         [1781 

beau  to  dine  with  General  Lincoln,  where  also  were  General 
"Washington,  Messrs,  de  Viosmenil,  de  Chatelux  and  de 
Lauzun.  There  were  conferences  enough  to  give  me  the 
impression  that  within  a  very  short  time  some  movement 
will  be  made :  in  fact  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  M.  de 
Rochambeau  made  his  preparations  for  a  march." — Diary 
of  Baron  Cromot  du  Bourg. 

['  "  July  14th. — Near  5000  men  being  ordered  to  march  for  Kingsbridge,  to 
cover  and  secure  a  reconnoitre  of  the  Enemy's  works  on  the  No.  end  of 
York  Island,  Harlaem  river,  &  the  Sound,  were  prevented  doing  so  by  in 
cessant  rain." — Washington's  Journal. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  18. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "  July  18th. — I  passed  the  North  Eiver, 
with  Count  de  Rochambeau — Genl.  de  Beville,  his  Qr.  Mr. 
Genl.  &  Genl.  Duportail  in  order  to  reconnoitre  the  Enemy 
Posts  and  Encampments  at  the  North  end  of  York  Island 
— and  took  an  Escort  of  150  Men  from  the  Jersey  Troops 
on  the  other  side." —  Washington's  Journal. 

SATURDAY,  JULY  21. 

On  the  march  to  Kingsbridge  :  "  July  21st. — Again  ordered 
abt.  5000  men  to  be  ready  to  march  at  8  o'clock  [in  the 
evening],  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering  the  enemy's 
Posts  at  Kingsbridge — and  to  cut  off,  if  possible,  such  of 
Delaney's  Corps  as  should  be  found  without  their  lines. 
At  the  hour  appointed  the  march  commenced  in  4  columns 
on  different  roads.  .  .  .  At  Mile  Square  (Valentine's  hill) 
the  left  column  of  the  American  Troops  and  right  of  the 
French  formed  their  junction,  as  did  the  left  of  the  French 
also  by  mistake,  as  it  was  intended  it  should  cross  the  Brunx 
by  Garrineaus,  &  recross  it  at  William's  bridge.  The  whole 
Army  (Parson's  division  first)  arrived  at  Kingsbridge  [four 
teen  miles  from  New  York]  about  daylight  &  formed  on  the 
heights  back  of  Fort  Independence — extending  towards 
delancy's  Mills." — Washington's  Journal. 


1781]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.  229 

SUNDAY,  JULY  22. 

At  Kingsbridge :  "  July  22d. — After  having  fixed  upon 
the  ground,  &  formed  our  line,  I  began,  with  General  Ro- 
chambeau  and  the  Engineers,  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's 
position  and  works." —  Washington's  Journal. 

"  While  near  the  enemy's  lines,  the  army  was  drawn  up  in  a  line  of  battle, 
and  General  Washington,  General  Kochambeau,  and  all  the  general  officers 
and  engineers,  were  employed  in  reconnoitering  the  different  positions  of 
the  enemy's  works  in  all  directions." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

MONDAY,  JULY  23. 

On  the  march  to  Phillipsburg :  "  July  23d. — Went  upon 
Frogs  Neck  to  see  what  communication  could  be  had 
with  Long  Isld,  the  Engineers  attending  with  Instrumts, 
to  measure  the  distance  across,  found  it  to  be  —  yards. 
Having  finished  the  reconnoitre  without  damage — a  few 
harmless  shot  being  fired  at  us — we  marched  back  about 
Six  o'clock  by  the  same  road  we  went  down  &  a  reversed 
order  of  March,  and  arrived  in  Camp  about  Midnight." — 
Washington's  Journal. 

"  July  23. — At  half-past  five  in  the  morning  we  mounted  again  to  make 
a  reconnoissance  of  a  part  of  Long  Island  which  is  separated  from  the  con 
tinent  by  the  Sound ;  several  vessels  which  were  there  fired  upon  us  without 
doing  us  any  harm.  We  returned  thence  to  Morrisania  to  examine  again  a 
part  of  the  island  on  our  way  back.  I  need  not  mention  the  sang  froid  of 
General  Washington,  it  is  well  known ;  but  this  great  man  is  a  thousand 
times  more  noble  and  splendid  at  the  head  of  his  army  than  at  any  other 
time." — Diary  of  Baron  Cromot  du  Bourg. 

On  the  23d  of  July,  Washington  and  Rochambeau  dined  at  the  Van 
Cortlandt  house,  about  one  mile  north  of  Kingsbridge. 

MONDAY,  JULY  30. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "  I  think  we  have  already  effected  one 
part  of  the  plan  of  the  campaign  settled  at  Weathersfield ; 
that  is,  giving  a  substantial  relief  to  the  southern  States,  by 
obliging  the  enemy  to  recall  a  considerable  part  of  their 
force  from  thence.  Our  views  must  now  be  turned  towards 


230  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

endeavouring  to  expel  them  totally  from  those  States,  if  we 
find  ourselves  incompetent  to  the  siege  of  New  York." 
—  Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

"  August  4,  1781. — I  have  seen  General  Washington,  that  most  singular 
man — the  soul  and  support  of  one  of  the  greatest  revolutions  that  has  ever 
happened,  or  can  happen.  .  .  .  He  is  of  tall  and  noble  stature,  well  propor 
tioned,  a  fine,  cheerful,  open  countenance,  a  simple  and  modest  carriage ; 
and  his  whole  mien  has  something  in  it  that  interests  the  French,  the  Ameri 
cans,  and  even  enemies  themselves  in  his  favor.  .  .  .  He  has  ever  shown 
himself  superior  to  fortune,  and  in  the  most  trying  adversity  has  discovered 
resources  till  then  unknown  ;  and,  as  if  his  abilities  only  increased  and  dilated 
at  the  prospect  of  difficulty,  he  is  never  better  supplied  than  when  he  seems 
destitute  of  every  thing,  nor  have  his  arms  ever  been  so  fatal  to  his  enemies, 
as  at  the  very  instant  when  they  had  thought  they  had  crushed  him  for  ever. 
...  In  all  these  extensive  states  they  consider  him  in  the  light  of  a  benefi 
cent  God,  dispensing  peace  and  happiness  around  him.  Old  men,  women 
and  children,  press  about  him  when  he  accidentally  passes  along,  and  think 
themselves  happy,  once  in  their  lives,  to  have  seen  him — they  follow  him 
through  the  towns  with  torches,  and  celebrate  his  arrival  by  public  illumi 
nations.  The  Americans,  that  cool  and  sedate  people,  who  in  the  midst  of 
their  most  trying  difficulties,  have  attended  only  to  the  directions  and  im 
pulses  of  plain  method  and  common  sense,  are  roused,  animated,  and  in 
flamed  at  the  very  mention  of  his  name  :  and  the  first  songs  that  sentiment 
or  gratitude  has  dictated,  have  been  to  celebrate  General  Washington." — 
Abbe  Robin,  chaplain  of  the  regiment  Soissonnais. 

MONDAY,  AUGUST  6. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "  August  6th. — The  Commander  in 
Chief,  attended  by  a  number  of  the  General  Officers,  recon 
noitred  towards  King's  Bridge,  covered  by  strong  detach 
ments  of  cavalry  and  infantry." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

SATURDAY,  AUGUST  11. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "  August  llth. — Robt.  Morris  Esqr. 
Superintendent  of  Finance  &  Richd.  Peters  Esq.  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  "War,  arrived  at  camp  to  fix  with  me  the 
number  of  men  necessary  for  the  next  campaign — and  to 
make  the  consequent  arrangements  for  their  establishment 
and  Support." — Washington's  Journal. 


1781]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  231 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  14. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "  August  14th. — Received  dispatches 
from  the  Count  de  Barras,  announcing  the  intended  de 
parture  of  the  Count  de  Grasse  from  Cape  Francois  with 
between  25  &  29  Sail  of  the  line  &  3200  land  Troops  on  the 
3d  Instant  for  Chesapeake  bay.  .  .  .  Matters  having  now 
come  to  a  crisis,  and  a  decisive  plan  to  be  determined  on — 
I  was  obliged,  from  the  shortness  of  Count  de  Grasse's 
promised  stay  on  this  coast — the  apparent  disinclination  in 
their  naval  officers  to  force  the  harbour  of  New  York,  and 
the  feeble  compliance  of  the  States  to  my  requisitions  for 
men,  hitherto,  &  little  prospect  of  greater  exertion  in  future, 
to  give  up  all  idea  of  attacking  New  York;  &  instead 
thereof  to  remove  the  French  Troops  &  a  detachment  from 
the  American  Army  to  the  Head  of  Elk,  to  be  transported 
to  Virginia  for  the  purpose  of  cooperating  with  the  force 
from  the  West  Indies  against  the  Troops  in  that  State." — 
Washington's  Journal. 

WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  15. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "  The  Concorde  frigate  has  arrived  at 
Newport  from  Count  de  Grasse.  He  was  to  leave  St. 
Domingo  the  3d  of  this  month,  with  a  fleet  of  between 
twenty-five  and  twenty-nine  sail  of  the  line,  and  a  consider 
able  body  of  land  forces.  His  destination  is  immediately 
for  the  Chesapeake;  so  that  he  will  either  be  there  by 
the  time  this  reaches  you,  or  you  may  look  for  him  every 
moment." — Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  16. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "  August  16. — In  the  morning  the  regi 
ment  of  Bourbonnais  mano3uvred  before  General  Washing 
ton  who  seemed  well  satisfied.  In  the  afternoon  he  saw 
that  of  Deux  Ponts  which  was  no  less  successful." — Diary 
of  Baron  Cromot  du  Bourg. 


232  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1781 

"August  16th. — Letters  from  the  Marqs.  de  la  Fayette  &  others,  inform 
that  Lord  Cornwallis  with  the  Troops  from  Hampton  Koad,  had  proceeded 
up  York  Kiver  &  landed  at  York  and  Gloucester  Towns  where  they  were 
throwing  up  works  on  the  6th  inst." — Washington's  Journal. 

FEIDAY,  AUGUST  17. 

At  Phillipsburg :  "  In  consequence  of  the  despatches  re 
ceived  from  your  Excellency  by  the  frigate  La  Concorde,  it 
has  been  judged  expedient  to  give  up  for  the  present  the 
enterprise  against  'New  York,  and  turn  our  attention  towards 
the  south,  with  a  view,  if  we  should  not  be  able  to  attempt 
Charleston  itself,  to  recover  and  secure  the  States  of  Vir 
ginia,  North  Carolina,  and  the  country  of  South  Carolina 
and  Georgia.  We  may  add  a  further  inducement  for  giving 
up  the  first-mentioned  enterprise,  which  is  the  arrival  of  a 
reinforcement  of  near  three  thousand  Hessian  recruits.  For 
this  purpose  we  have  determined  to  remove  the  whole  of 
the  French  army,  and  as  large  a  detachment  of  the  Amer 
ican  as  can  be  spared,  to  the  Chesapeake,  to  meet  your 
Excellency  there." —  Washington  to  Count  de  Grasse. 

"  August  17th. — The  whole  of  the  French  army,  with  the  two  regiments 
of  New  Jersey,  first  regiment  of  New- York,  Col.  Hazen's  regiment,  Col. 
Olney's  regiment  of  Khode  Island,  Col.  Lamb's  regiment  of  artillery,  and 
the  light  troops  under  the  command  of  Col.  Scammel,  were  detached  for  the 
expedition  against  Lord  Cornwallis,  and  the  army  under  his  command,  at 
York-Town,  in  Virginia." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

SUNDAY,  AUGUST  19. 

Leaves  Phillipsburg :  "August  19th. — The  want  of  Horses, 
or  bad  condition  of  them  in  the  French  Army  delayed  the 
March  till  this  day.  .  .  .  Passed  Sing  Sing  with  the  Ameri 
can  column — The  French  column  marched  by  the  way  of 
North  castle  Crompond  &  Pines  bridge  being  near  ten  miles 
further." —  Washington's  Journal. 

"August  19th. — About  noon,  his  Excellency  Gen.  Washington  left  the 
army,  setting  his  face  towards  his  native  State,  in  full  confidence,  to  use  his 
own  words,  '  with  a  common  blessing,'  of  capturing  Lord  Cornwallis  and  his 
army." — Heath's  Memoirs. 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.  233 

MONDAY,  AUGUST  20. 

At  King's  Ferry:  "August  20th.— The  head  of  the 
Americans  arrived  at  King's  ferry  about  ten  o'clock  and 
immediately  began  to  cross." —  Washington's  Journal. 

During  the  crossing  of  the  allied  armies  at  King's  Ferry,  Washington 
had  his  head-quarters  at  the  Joshua  Hett  Smith  house,  about  two  and  a  half 
miles  below  Stony  Point,  the  western  landing  of  the  ferry.  The  house, 
which  possesses  historical  interest,  from  being  the  place  at  which  Andre  and 
Arnold  had  their  meeting  (September  22,  1780),  is  still  standing.  It  is 
beautifully  situated  on  the  ridge  of  a  hill  which  commands  an  extensive 
view  of  the  Hudson. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  21. 

At  King's  Ferry:  "August  21st. — In  the  course  of  this 
day  the  whole  of  the  American  Troop,  all  their  baggage, 
artillery  &  stores  crossed  the  river." — Washington's  Journal. 

"  On  the  21st.  the  [French]  army  left  Northcastle.  In  the  evening  I  re 
ceived  orders  from  the  general  [Eochambeau]  to  carry  a  letter  to  General 
"Washington,  who  was  already  on  the  other  side  of  the  North  river,  where 
we  also  were  beginning  to  form  some  establishments.  The  Americans  were 
already  much  farther  off  than  I  had  supposed  ;  I  joined  them  nevertheless : 
General  Washington  was  occupying  Smith's  house,  famous  owing  to  the 
fact  that  there  Andre  and  Arnold  had  held  their  meeting.  General  Wash 
ington  was  taking  tea;  1  took  it  with  him." — Diary  of  Claude  Blanchard, 
p.  127. 

WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  22. 

At  King's  Ferry:  "August  22d,  23d,  24th,  &  25th— Em 
ployed  in  transporting  the  French  Army — its  baggage  and 
stores  over  the  river." —  Washington's  Journal. 

"August  22. — The  troops  arrived  in  quite  good  season  at  their  camp  [at 
King's  Ferry],  which  was  pitched  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  overlooking  the 
North  Kiver.  They  remained  there  the  23d  and  24th.  During  this  time 
arrangements  were  made  for  the  passage  of  the  River  by  all  the  trains  and 
troops,  quite  a  difficult  matter,  there  being  but  few  boats.  August  23. — As 
the  Headquarters  remained  at  Peskill  [Peekskill],  there  being  at  King's 
Ferry  only  the  single  house  which  belonged  to  the  man  who  owns  the 
Ferry,  M.  de  Rochambeau  was  not  willing  to  pass  so  near  West  Point  as 
nine  miles,  without  seeing  it.  He  left  by  boat  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morn- 


234  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1781 

ing  to  visit  it  with  General  Washington  and  several  officers." — Diary  of 
Baron  Cromot  du  Bourg. 

FKIDAY,  AUGUST  24. 

At  King's  Ferry :  "  From  the  progress  already  made  in 
our  march  towards  the  Chesapeake,  it  is  estimated  that  the 
troops  may  arrive  at  the  Head  of  Elk  by  the  8th  of  Septem 
ber." —  Washington  to  Count  de  Grasse. 

"  On  the  25th.  I  went  myself  to  the  spot  [King's  Ferry]  and  saw  many 
of  the  troops  and  much  baggage  cross.  General  Washington  was  there ; 
they  had  provided  a  pavilion  for  him,  from  which  he  examined  everything 
very  attentively.  He  seemed,  in  this  crossing,  in  the  march  of  our  troops 
towards  the  Chesapeake  bay  and  in  our  reunion  with  M.  de  Grasse,  to  see  a 
better  destiny  arise,  when  at  this  period  of  the  war,  exhausted,  destitute  of 
resources,  he  needed  a  great  success  which  might  revive  courage  and  hope. 
He  pressed  my  hand  with  much  affection  when  he  left  us  and  crossed  the 
river  himself.  It  was  about  two  o'clock.  He  then  rejoined  his  army, 
which  had  commenced  its  march  in  the  morning,  as  also  the  first  division 
of  our  army." — Diary  of  Claude  Blanchard. 

MONDAY,  AUGUST  27. 

At  Chatham,  New  Jersey :  "  I  must  entreat  you,  if  possi 
ble,  to  procure  one  month's  pay  in  specie  for  the  detach 
ment,  which  I  have  under  my  command.  Part  of  those 
troops  have  not  been  paid  anything  for  a  long  time  past, 
and  have  upon  several  occasions  shown  marks  of  great  dis 
content.  The  service  they  are  going  upon  is  disagreeable 
to  the  northern  regiments;  but  I  make  no  doubt  that  a 
douceur  of  a  little  hard  money  would  put  them  in  proper 
temper.  .  .  .  The  American  detachment  will  assemble  in 
this  neighborhood  to-day ;  the  French  army  to-morrow." — 
Washington  to  Robert  Morris. 

"  When  they  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  the  Army  discovered  great  discon 
tent  at  not  receiving  certain  arrears  of  pay  long  withheld  from  them.  It 
was  thought  neither  prudent  or  safe  to  proceed  farther  without  making  pay 
at  least  in  part.  Money  was  also  wanted  to  hire  vessels  &  other  means  to 
proceed  down  the  Chesapeake  Bay.  The  Treasury  was  empty — Congress 
had  no  means  to  raise  the  money — requisitions  had  been  voted  in  vain.  In 
this  exigency  the  vigorous  exertions  of  the  Hon.  Kobert  Morris  the  Super- 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  235 

intendent  of  Finances,  relieved  their  distress.  He  went  out  among  his  mer 
cantile  &  other  Friends,  and  borrowed  on  his  own  responsibility  upwards 
of  30,000  Dollars  which  answered  every  purpose,  and  the  Army  soon  ap 
peared  before  York  Town." — MS.  of  Elias  Boudinot. 

Twenty  thousand  hard  dollars  of  this  amount  was  borrowed  from  Count  de 
Kochambeau,  which  Mr.  Morris  engaged  to  replace  by  the  1st  of  October.  The 
arrival  of  Colonel  Laurens  at  Boston  from  his  mission  to  France,  on  the  25th 
of  August,  with  two  millions  and  a  half  of  livres,  part  of  the  donation  of  six 
millions,  enabled  the  Superintendent  of  Finance  to  fulfil  his  engagement. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  28. 

At  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey :  "Aug.  28. — To  Expen 
ditures  on  my  March  from  ye  White  Plains,  or  Dobb's  Ferry 
by  y9  way  of  King's  ferry  to  Brunswick  inclusive  .  .  . 
£38.15.0." —  Washington's  Accounts. 

WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  29. 

At  Trenton,  New  Jersey  :  "  September  1st. — Letters  were 
received  from  Gen.  Washington,  dated  at  Trenton,  the  29th 
ult." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"  August  30th. — I  set  out  for  Philadelphia  to  arrange  matters  there — pro 
vide  vessels — &  hasten  the  transportation  of  the  Ordnance  Stores,  &c. — 
directing  before  I  set  out,  the  Seed.  York  Regiment  (which  had  not  all 
arrived  from  Albany  before  we  left  King's  ferry)  to  follow  with  the  boats — 
Intrenching  Tools  &c.  Arrived  at  Philadelphia  to  dinner  and  immediately 
hastened  up  all  the  vessels  that  could  be  procured — but  finding  them  in 
adequate  to  the  purpose  of  transporting  both  Troops  and  Stores,  Count  da 
Rochambeau  and  myself  concluded  it  would  be  best  to  let  the  Troops 
march  by  land  to  the  Head  of  Elk,  &  gave  directions  accordingly  to  all 
but  the  2d  York  regiment,  which  was  ordered  (with  its  baggage)  to  come 
down  in  the  Batteaux  they  had  in  charge  to  Christiana  bridge." — Wash 
ington's  Journal. 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  30. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  On  Thursday,  the  30th  of  August,  at 
one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  his  Excellency  the  Commander- 
in-chief  of  the  American  armies,  accompanied  by  the  Gen 
erals  Rochambeau  and  Chastellux,  with  their  respective 
Suites,  arrived  in  this  city.  The  General  was  received  by 
the  militia  light  horse  in  the  suburbs,  and  escorted  into  the 


236  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1781 

town ;  he  stopped  at  the  City  Tavern  and  received  the  visit 
of  several  gentlemen;  from  thence  he  proceeded  to  the 
house  of  the  Superintendent  of  Finance  [Robert  Morris], 
where  he  now  has  his  head-quarters.  About  three  o'clock 
he  went  up  to  the  State  House,  and  paid  his  respects  to 
Congress.  He  then  returned  to  the  Superintendent's,  where 
his  Excellency  the  President  of  Congress  [Thomas  M'Kean] 
with  the  Generals  before  mentioned,  General  Knox,  General 
Sullivan,  and  several  other  gentlemen,  had  the  pleasure  of 
dining  with  him.  After  dinner  some  vessels  belonging  to 
this  port,  and  those  lying  in  the  stream,  fired  salutes  to  the 
different  toasts  which  were  drank.  In  the  evening  the  city 
was  illuminated,  and  his  Excellency  walked  through  some 
of  the  principal  streets,  attended  by  a  numerous  concourse 
of  people,  eagerly  pressing  to  see  their  beloved  General." — 
Pennsylvania  Packet,  September  1, 1781. 

"August  30th,  1781. — "Went  out  to  meet  his  Excellency  General  "Wash 
ington,  who  arrived  in  this  city  about  one  o'clock,  amidst  the  universal  ac 
clamations  of  the  citizens,  who  displayed  every  mark  of  joy  on  the  occasion. 
His  Excellency  alighted  at  the  City  Tavern,  received  the  compliments  of 
many  gentlemen,  who  went  out  to  escort  him,  and  of  others  who  came  there 
to  pay  him  their  respects,  and  then  adjourned  to  my  house  [South  Front 
Street]  with  his  suit,  Count  de  Rochambeau,  the  Chevalier  Chastellux,  Gen 
eral  Knox,  General  Moultrie,  and  others,  to  dinner.  The  owners  of  several 
ships  in  the  harbor  ordered  them  out  into  the  stream,  and  fired  salutes, 
whilst  we  drank,  The  United  States,  His  Most  Christian  Majesty,  His 
Catholic  Majesty,  The  United  Provinces,  The  Allied  Armies,  Count  de 
Grasse's  speedy  arrival,  &c  &c." — Diary  of  Robert  Morris,  "Diplomatic 
Correspondence,"  xi.  462. 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  2. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  Should  the  retreat  of  Lord  Cornwallis 
by  water  be  cut  off,  I  am  persuaded  you  will  do  all  in  your 
power  to  prevent  his  escape  by  land.  May  that  great  felicity 
be  reserved  for  you." —  Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

"  A  certain  warrior  [Marquis  de  Lafayette]  at  the  head  of  twelve  or 
fifteen  hundred  men,  has  found  means  to  keep  his  ground  all  this  time  in 
Virginia;  the  impetuous  Arnold,  and  the  active  Cornwallis,  not  daring  to 


1781]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  237 

attempt  anything  against  him.  You  will  doubtless  suppose,  that  this  warrior 
is  one  of  those  men,  whom  long  experience  and  brilliant  successes,  have 
rendered  formidable  to  the  enemy.  This  leader,  I  assure  you,  is  a  man  of 
only  twenty-four  years  of  age,  who  has  left  the  arms  of  an  affectionate  and 
amiable  wife,  a  residence  among  pleasures  and  high  life,  where  his  name, 
and  an  alliance  with  an  illustrious  family,  opened  a  great  way  to  the  greatest 
dignities,  to  come  to  this  country,  and,  under  the  American  FABIUS,  defend 
the  sacred  cause  of  liberty,  and  learn  to  serve  his  king  and  country." — Abbe 
Robin. 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBEK  3. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  On  Monday  and  Tuesday  last  the 
French  army,  under  the  command  of  his  Excellency  Count 
de  Rochambeau,  passed  in  review  before  his  Excellency  the 
President  and  the  Honorable  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  at  the  State  House  in  this  city.  The  President  was 
covered,  his  Excellency  General  Washington,  Commander- 
in-Chief,  the  Count  de  Rochambeau,  etc.,  stood  on  his  left 
hand,  uncovered." — Pennsylvania  Packet,  September  8,1781. 

TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  4. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  In  the  evening  [September  4]  I  re 
paired  to  the  house  of  M.  de  la  Luzerne  [north  side  of 
Chestnut  Street,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh  Streets],  who 
was  giving  a  great  dinner  to  the  chief  officer  of  the  Con 
gress,  General  Washington,  and  the  principal  officers  of  our 
troops." — Diary  of  Claude  Blanchard,  p.  136. 

WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  5. 

Leaves  Philadelphia :  "  September  5th. — The  rear  of  the 
French  army  having  reached  Philadelphia,  and  the  Amer 
icans  having  passed  it,  the  stores  having  got  up  and  every 
thing  in  a  tolerable  train  here ;  I  left  this  city  for  the  head 
of  Elk  to  hasten  the  embarkation  at  that  place,  and  on  my 
way — (at  Chester) — received  the  agreeable  news  of  the  safe 
arrival  of  the  Count  de  Grasse  in  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake 
with  28  sail  of  the  line  and  four  frigates,  with  3000  land 
Troops  which  were  to  be  immediately  debarked  at  James 
town  and  form  a  junction  with  the  American  army  under 


238  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1781 

the  command  of  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette." — Washington's 
Journal. 

THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  6. 

At  Head  of  Elk,  Maryland :  "  I  have  been  honored  by 
your  Excellency's  favor  of  the  2d  instant,  and  do  myself  the 
pleasure  to  felicitate  you  on  the  happy  arrival  of  so  for 
midable  a  fleet  of  his  Most  Christian  Majesty  in  the  Bay  of 
Chesapeake  under  your  Excellency's  command." — Washing 
ton  to  Count  de  Grasse. 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  7. 

At  Head  of  Elk :  "  I  shall  set  out  for  the  theatre  of  action 
to-morrow,  and  hope  to  have  the  pleasure  of  communicating 
with  you  personally  in  a  few  days,  and  of  making  every  ar 
rangement,  in  conjunction  with  the  admiral,  which  may  be 
deemed  necessary." — Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  8. 

At  Baltimore,  Maryland :  "  General  Washington  accom 
panied  by  the  Count  Rochambeau,  general  Hand,  major 
general  baron  Viomenil,  brigadier  general  Chatelux  and 
Gen.  Clinton  passed  through  town,  the  eighth  September, 
most  of  the  allied  army  going  by  water  from  Elkton  to  An 
napolis.  On  this  occasion  the  town  was  illuminated  and  an 
address  from  the  citizens  and  inhabitants,  was  presented  to 
the  commander  in  chief,  which  he  answered." — Annals  of 
Baltimore. 

"  Baltimore,  September  11,  1781. — Last  Saturday  afternoon  [September 
8]  his  excellency  general  Washington  (accompanied  by  adjutant  general 
Hand,  and  other  officers  of  distinction)  arrived  at  the  Fountain-Inn,  in  this 
town,  on  his  way  to  Virginia.  His  excellency  was  received  in  this  vicinity, 
and  escorted  to  his  quarters,  by  Captain  Moore's  troop  of  light  dragoons, 
where  he  was  most  respectfully  complimented  by  a  number  of  gentlemen. 
The  Baltimore  artillery  companies  gave  his  excellency  a  handsome  salute, 
and  the  inhabitants  in  general,  seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  testifying 
their  respect  and  affection  for  his  person  and  character.  In  the  evening 
every  part  of  the  town  was  elegantly  illuminated.  Very  early  the  next 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  239 

morning  his  excellency  (with  his  attendants)  proceeded  on  his  journey,  the 
object  of  which  is  obvious,  and,  undoubtedly,  of  the  last  importance." — 
Pennsylvania  Packet,  September  18,  1781. 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBEK  9. 

At  Mount  Vernon,  Virginia :  "  September  9th — I  reached 
my  own  Seat  at  Mount  Vernon  (distance  120  miles  from  the 
H'd  of  Elk)  where  I  staid  till  the  12th,  and  in  three  days 
afterwards — that  is  on  the  14th — reached  Williamsburg." — 
Washington's  Journal 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  10. 

At  Mount  Vernon  :  "  "We  are  thus  far  on  our  way  to  you. 
The  Count  de  Rochambeau  has  just  arrived.  General 
Chastellux  will  be  here,  and  we  propose,  after  resting  to 
morrow,  to  be  at  Fredericksburg  on  the  night  of  the  12th. 
The  13th  we  shall  reach  New  Castle ;  and  the  next  day  we 
expect  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  at  your  encamp 
ment  [at  Williamsburg]." — Washington  to  the  Marquis  de 
Lafayette. 

TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBEK  11. 

At  Mount  Vernon :  "  I  intended  on  passing  thro'  Mary 
land,  to  have  done  myself  the  pleasure  to  have  called  on 
your  Excellency,  but  circumstances  pressing  upon  me,  as  I 
advanced  on  my  march,  &  Time  slipping  too  fast  from  me, 
I  found  a  necessity  of  getting  on  with  that  rapidity  as  has 
obliged  me  to  proceed  without  calling  at  Annapolis." — 
Washington  to  Governor  Lee. 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  14. 

At  Williamsburg,  Virginia :  "  Sept.  14th. — In  the  evening 
about  four  o'clock  twenty-one  pieces  of  cannon  were  fired 
on  the  arrival  of  his  Excellency  General  George  Washing 
ton.  There  was  a  universal  joy  amongst  our  officers  and 
soldiers,  especially  the  French  troops,  on  his  arrival." — 
Journal  of  Lieutenant  William  Feltman,  "  Collections,  Hist. 
Soc.  of  Penna.,"  1853. 


240  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1781 

"Washington's  head-quarters  at  Williamsburg  were  at  the  Wythe  House, 
"  a  stately  colonial  mansion,  fronting  upon  a  long  narrow  common,  called 
the  Palace  Green."  The  house,  a  large  two-story  brick  building,  is  still 
standing ;  it  was  the  home  of  George  Wythe,  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  sole  Chancellor  of  Virginia  for  more  than 
twenty  years. 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  17. 

Visits  Count  de  Grasse :  "  September  17th. — In  company 
with  the  Count  de  Rochambeau,  the  Chevr  Chastellux, 
Genls.  Knox  and  Duportail,  I  set  out  for  the  interview  with 
the  Admiral,  and  arrived  on  board  the  Ville  de  Paris  (off 
Cape  Henry)  the  next  day  by  noon,  and  having  settled  most 
points  with  him  to  my  satisfaction  except  not  obtaining  an 
assurance  of  sending  ships  above  York — and  one  that  he 
could  not  continue  his  fleet  on  this  station  longer  than  the 
first  of  November,  I  embarked  on  board  the  Queen  Char 
lotte  (the  vessel  I  went  down  in),  but  by  hard  blowing  and 
contrary  winds,  did  not  reach  Williamsburg  again  till  the 
22d." — Washington's  Journal. 

"September  25th. — Admiral  de  Barras  having  joined  the  Count  de  Grasse 
with  the  Squadron  and  Transports  from  Ehode  Island,  and  the  latter  with 
some  Frigates  being  sent  to  Baltimore  for  the  remaind1  of  the  French  army, 
arrived  this  day  at  the  usual  port  of  debarkation  above  the  College  Creek, 
and  began  to  land  the  Troops  from  them." — Washington's  Journal. 

FRIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  28. 

On  the  march  to  Yorktown :  "  September  28th. — Having 
debarked  all  the  Troops  and  their  Baggage — marched — and 
encamped  them  in  Front  of  the  city — and  having  with  some 
difficulty  obtained  horses  and  waggons  sufficient  to  move 
our  field  Artillery,  Intrenching  Tools — and  such  other  ar 
ticles  as  were  indispensably  necessary — we  commenced  our 
march  for  the  Investiture  of  the  Enemy  at  York. — The 
American  Continental,  and  French  troops  formed  one  col 
umn  on  the  left — the  first  in  advance — the  Militia  composed 
the  right  column.  .  .  .  About  noon  the  head  of  each  col 
umn  arrived  at  its  ground.  .  .  .  The  line  being  formed  all 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  241 

the   Troops — officers  &  men — lay  upon  their  arms  during 
the  night." — Washington's  Journal. 

"  On  the  night  of  September  28,  "Washington  and  his  staff  bivouacked  on 
the  ground  in  the  open  air.  He  slept  under  a  mulberry-tree,  the  root  serv 
ing  for  a  pillow." — Irving,  iv.  356. 

SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  29. 

Before  Yorktown :  "  September  29th. — Moved  the  Ameri 
can  Troop  more  to  the  right,  and  Encamped  on  the  East 
side  of  Be[a]ver  dam  Creek,  with  a  morass  in  front  about 
cannon  shot  from  the  enemy's  lines — Spent  this  day  in  rec- 
onnoitering  the  enemy's  position,  &  determining  upon  a 
plan  of  attack  &  approach  which  must  be  done  without  the 
assistance  of  shipping  above  the  Town  as  the  Admiral — 
(notwithstanding  my  earnest  solicitation)  declined  hazard 
ing  any  vessells  on  that  station." —  Washington's  Journal. 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  30. 

Before  Yorktown  :  "  September  30th. — The  enemy  aban 
doned  all  their  exterior  works,  &  the  position  they  had 
taken  without  the  Town;  &  retired  within  their  Interior 
works  of  defence  in  the  course  of  last  night — immediately 
upon  which  we  possessed  them  &  made  those  on  our  left 
(with  a  little  alteration)  very  serviceable  to  us — "We  also 
began  two  enclosed  works  on  the  right  of  Pidgeon  Hill — 
between  that  &  the  ravine  above  More's  Mill." — Wash 
ington's  Journal. 

On  the  30th  the  place  was  completely  invested  by  the  allied  armies,  their 
line  extending  in  a  semicircle  at  a  distance  of  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter 
from  the  British  works,  each  wing  resting  upon  the  York  River.  The 
French  occupied  the  left,  the  Americans  the  right,  while  Count  de  Grasse 
with  his  fleet  remained  in  Lynn  Haven  Bay,  to  beat  off  any  naval  force 
which  might  come  to  the  aid  of  Cornwallis.  On  the  extreme  left  of  the 
besieging  army  were  the  regiments  of  Gatinois  (Royal  Auvergne),  Tour- 
aine,  and  Agenois,  under  the  Marquis  de  St.-Simon,  and  next  to  them 
were  the  light-infantry  regiments  of  Saintonge,  Soissannais,  Royal  Deux- 
Ponts,  and  Bourbonnais,  commanded  by  the  Baron  and  Viscount  Viomenil. 

17 


242  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

The  French  artillery  and  the  quarters  of  General  "Washington  and  Count 
de  Rochambeau  occupied  the  centre ;  and  on  the  right,  across  a  marsh,  were 
the  American  artillery,  under  General  Knox ;  the  Virginia,  Maryland,  and 
Pennsylvania  troops,  under  Steuben  ;  the  New  York,  Ehode  Island,  and 
New  Jersey  troops,  with  sappers  and  miners,  under  General  James  Clinton  ; 
the  light  infantry,  under  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette ;  and  the  Virginia 
militia,  under  Governor  Nelson.  The  quarters  of  General  Lincoln  were  on 
the  banks  of  Wormley's  Creek,  on  the  extreme  right.  During  the  siege 
the  Americans  and  French,  under  Generals  Choisy  and  "Weedon  and  the 
Duke  de  Lauzun,  blockaded  Gloucester. 

MONDAY,  OCTOBER  1. 

Before  Yorktown :  "  Oct.  1st. — This  afternoon,  three 
o'clock  his  excellency  Gen'l  Washington,  Gen.  Duportail 
and  several  other  engineers  crossed  at  the  mill  dam  to  take 
a  view  of  the  enemy's  works.  His  excellency  sent  one  of 
his  Aides  de  Camp  for  Capt.  Smith  and  his  guard  of  fifty 
men  to  march  in  front  of  his  Excellency  as  a  covering  party, 
which  we  did,  and  went  under  cover  of  a  hill,  where  we 
posted  our  guard,  when  his  Excellency  Gen'l  "Washington 
and  Gen'l  Duportail  with  three  men  of  our  guard  advanced 
within  three  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  main  works, 
which  is  the  town  of  York." — Journal  of  Lieutenant  William 
Feltman. 

SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  6. 

Before  Yorktown :  "  October  6th. — Before  morning  the 
Trenches  were  in  such  forwardness  as  to  cover  the  men 
from  the  enemy's  fire — The  work  was  executed  with  so 
much  secresy  &  dispatch  that  the  enemy  were,  I  believe, 
totally  ignorant  of  our  labor  till  the  light  of  the  morning 
discovered  it  to  them." — Washington's  Journal. 

"  The  Commander  in  Chief  congratulates  the  Army  upon  the  late  victory 
obtained  over  the  Enemy  at  Eutaw  Springs  in  South  Carolina  [September 
8].  He  returns  his  warmest  acknowledgements  to  General  Greene  for  his 
admirable  General  Plann  of  operations,  his  judicious  dispositions  on  the 
present  Occasion  and  the  exemplary  vigor  with  which  he  conducted  their 
execution." — Orderly  Book,  October  6. 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  243 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBEK  7. 

Before  Yorktown :  "  October  7th  and  8th. — Was  employed 
in  compleating  our  Parallel — finishing  the  redoubts  in  them 
and  establishing  Batteries." — Washington's  Journal. 

TUESDAY,  OCTOBER  9. 

Before  Yorktown  :  "  October  9th. — "We  erected  a  battery 
last  night  in  front  of  our  first  parallel,  without  any  annoy 
ance  from  the  enemy.  Two  or  three  of  our  batteries  being 
now  prepared  to  open  on  the  town,  his  Excellency  General 
Washington  put  the  match  to  the  first  gun,  and  a  furious 
discharge  of  cannon  and  mortars  immediately  followed,  and 
Earl  Cornwallis  has  received  his  first  Salutation." — Thacher's 
Military  Journal. 

"  October  9th. — About  3  o'clock  P.M.  the  French  opened  a  battery  on  our 
extreme  left  of  4  sixteen  pounders,  and  six  Morters  &  Howitzers — and  at 
5  o'clock  an  American  battery  of  six  18s  &  24s ;  four  Morters  &  2  Howitzers 
began  to  play  from  the  extremity  of  our  right. — October  10th — The  French 
opened  two  batteries  on  the  left  of  our  front  parallel.  .  .  .  And  the  Ameri 
cans  two  Batteries  between  those  last  mentioned  &  the  one  on  our  extreme 
right. — October  llth — The  French  opened  two  other  batteries  on  the  left  of 
the  parallel." — Washington's  Journal. 

FRIDAY,  OCTOBER  12. 

Before  Yorktown :  "  October  12th. — Began  our  second 
parallel  within  about  300  yards  (and  in  some  places  less)  of 
the  enemy's  lines — and  got  it  so  well  advanced  in  the  course 
of  the  night  as  to  cover  the  men  before  morning." — Wash 
ington's  Journal. 

"  I  cannot  but  acknowledge  the  infinite  obligations  I  am  under  to  His 
Excellency,  the  Count  de  Rochambeau,  the  Marquis  St.  Simon,  command 
ing  the  troops  from  the  West  Indies,  the  other  general  officers,  and  indeed 
the  officers  of  every  denomination  in  the  French  army,  for  the  assistance 
which  they  afford  me.  The  experience  of  many  of  those  gentlemen,  in  the 
business  before  us,  is  of  the  utmost  advantage  in  the  present  operation. 
And  I  am  sensible  it  must  give  your  Excellency  and  Congress  the  highest 
pleasure  to  know,  that  the  greatest  harmony  prevails  between  the  two 
armies.  They  seem  actuated  by  one  spirit,  that  of  supporting  the  honor  of 
the  allied  arms,  and  pushing  their  approaches  with  the  utmost  vigor." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress,  October  12. 


244  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1781 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  14. 

Before  Yorktown :  "  October  14th. — The  day  was  spent  in 
compleating  our  parallel  and  maturing  the  Batteries  of  the 
second  parallel — the  old  batteries  were  principally  directed 
against  the  abattis  and  salient  angles  of  the  enemy's  ad 
vanced  redoubts  on  their  extreme  right  and  left,  to  prepare 
them  for  the  intended  assault  for  which  the  necessary  dis 
positions  were  made  for  attacking  the  two  on  the  left,  and, 
— At  half  after  six  in  the  evening  both  were  carried — that 
on  their  left  (on  the  Bank  of  the  river)  by  the  Americans, 
and  the  other  by  the  French  Troops.  The  Baron  Viominel 
commanded  the  left  attack  &  the  Marq's  de  la  Fayette,  the 
right,  on  which  the  light  Infantry  were  employed.  .  .  . 
The  bravery  exhibited  by  the  attacking  Troops  was  emulous 
and  praiseworthy — few  cases  have  exhibited  stronger  proofs 
of  Intripidity,  coolness  and  firmness  than  were  shown  upon 
this  occasion." — Washington's  Journal. 

"  During  the  assault,  the  British  kept  up  an  incessant  firing  of  cannon 
and  musketry  from  their  whole  line.  His  Excellency  General  Washington, 
Generals  Lincoln  and  Knox,  with  their  aids,  having  dismounted,  were 
standing  in  an  exposed  situation  waiting  the  result.  Colonel  Cobb,  one  of 
General  Washington's  aids,  solicitous  for  his  safety,  said  to  his  Excellency, 
'  Sir,  you  are  too  much  exposed  here,  had  you  not  better  step  a  little  back?' 
'  Colonel  Cobb,'  replied  his  Excellency,  '  if  you  are  afraid,  you  have  liberty 
to  step  back.'  " — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

MONDAY,  OCTOBER  15. 

Before  Yorktown :  "  October  15th. — Busily  employed  in 
getting  the  Batteries  of  the  second  parallel  compleated,  and 
fixing  on  new  ones  contiguous  to  the  Redoubts  which  were 
taken  last  night. — October  16th — About  four  o'clock  this 
morning,  the  enemy  made  a  Sortee  upon  our  second  par 
allel  and  spiked  four  French  pieces  of  Artillery  and  two  of 
ours,  but  the  guards  of  the  Trenches  advancing  quickly 
upon  them,  they  retreated  precipitatel}-.  .  .  .  About  4 
o'clock  this  afternoon  the  French  opened  two  Batteries  of 
2  24s  &  four  16s  each — 3  pieces  from  the  American  grand 


1781]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  245 

battery  were  also  opened  the  others  not  being  ready. — 
October  17th — The  Frencli  opened  another  Battery  of  four 
24s  &  two  16s  and  a  Morter  Battery  of  10  Morters  and  two 
Howitzers — The  American  grand  Battery  consisting  of  12 
twenty-four  and  eighteen  prs,  4  Morters  and  two  Howitzers." 

—  Washington's  Journal. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBEK  17. 

Before  Yorktown :  "  October  17th. — About  ten  o'clock  the 
enemy  beat  a  parley,  and  Lord  Cornwallis  proposed  a  cessa 
tion  of  Hostilities  for  24  hours,  that  Commissioners  might 
meet  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Moore  (in  the  rear  of  our  first 
parallel)  to  settle  terms  for  the  Surrender  of  the  Posts  of 
York  and  Gloucester." —  Washington's  Journal. 

"  October  18th. — The  Commissioners  met  accordingly ;  but  the  business 
was  so  procrastinated  by  those  on  their  side  (a  Colo.  Dundas  &  a  Maj'r 
Ross)  that  Colo.  Laurens  &  the  Viscount  de  Noailles,  who  were  appointed 
on  our  part  could  do  no  more  than  make  the  rough  draught  of  the  articles 
which  were  to  be  submitted  for  Lord  Cornwallis'  consideration." — Washing 
ton's  Journal. 

FRIDAY,  OCTOBER  19. 

Surrender  of  Yorktown :  "  October  19th. — In  the  morning 
early  I  had  them  [the  articles  of  surrender]  copied  and  sent 
word  to  Lord  Cornwallis  that  I  expected  to  have  them 
signed  at  11  o'clock — and  that  the  Garrison  would  march 
out  at  two  o'clock — both  of  which  were  accordingly  done." 

—  Washington's  Journal. 

"  At  about  twelve  o'clock,  the  combined  army  was  arranged  and  drawn 
up  in  two  lines  extending  more  than  a  mile  in  length.  The  Americans 
were  drawn  up  in  a  line  on  the  right  side  of  the  road,  and  the  French  oc 
cupied  the  left.  At  the  head  of  the  former  the  great  American  commander, 
mounted  on  his  noble  courser,  took  his  station,  attended  by  his  aids.  At  the 
head  of  the  latter  was  posted  the  excellent  Count  Rochambeau  and  his  suite. 
...  It  was  about  two  o'clock  when  the  captive  army  advanced  through 
the  line  formed  for  their  reception.  Every  eye  was  prepared  to  gaze  on 
Lord  Cornwallis,  the  object  of  peculiar  interest  and  solicitude  ;  but  he  dis 
appointed  our  anxious  expectations ;  pretending  indisposition,  he  made 


246  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1781 

General  O'Hara  his  substitute  as  the  leader  of  his  army.  This  officer  was 
followed  by  the  conquered  troops  in  a  slow  and  solemn  step,  with  shouldered 
arms,  colors  cased  and  drums  beating  a  British  march.  Having  arrived  at 
the  head  of  the  line,  General  O'Hara,  elegantly  mounted,  advanced  to  his 
Excellency  the  Commander  in  Chief,  taking  off  his  hat,  and  apologized  for 
the  non-appearance  of  Earl  Cornwallis.  With  his  usual  dignity  and  polite 
ness  his  Excellency  pointed  to  Major  General  Lincoln  for  directions,  by 
whom  the  British  army  was  conducted  into  a  spacious  field  where  it  was  in 
tended  they  should  ground  their  arms." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  20. 

Before  Yorktown :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  General  con 
gratulates  the  army  upon  the  glorious  event  of  yesterday. 
.  .  .  Divine  service  is  to  be  performed  to-morrow  in  the 
several  brigades  and  divisions.  The  Commander-in-chief 
earnestly  recommends,  that  the  troops  not  on  duty  should 
universally  attend,  with  that  seriousness  of  deportment  and 
gratitude  of  heart,  which  the  recognition  of  such  reiterated 
arid  astonishing  interpositions  of  Providence  demands  of  us." 

"  The  surrender  of  Yorktown  produced,  as  may  well  be  supposed,  the 
greatest  excitement  throughout  the  continent.  It  was  justly  considered  as 
decisive  of  the  issue  of  the  struggle.  The  successive  steps  in  the  transac 
tion,  beginning  with  the  first  movement  of  the  combined  armies  from  the 
vicinity  of  New  York,  and  extending  to  the  complete  investment  of  the 
British  camp  at  Yorktown,  were  taken  with  such  rapidity,  the  combina 
tions  were  so  skilfully  arranged,  the  result  so  speedily  secured,  that  the 
imaginations  of  men  were  dazzled,  and  the  hearts  of  the  friends  of  the 
American  cause  were  filled  with  rapturous  admiration  and  gratitude.  Dr. 
Franklin  thus  wrote  to  Washington  from  Paris,  on  receiving  the  intelli 
gence  :  '  All  the  world  agree,  that  no  expedition  was  ever  better  planned  or 
better  executed.  It  has  made  a  great  addition  to  the  military  reputation 
you  had  already  acquired,  and  heightens  the  glory  that  surrounds  your 
name,  and  that  must  accompany  it  to  our  latest  posterity.'  " — Upham,  ii.  60. 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  21. 

Visits  Count  de  Grasse :  "October  21st. — The  prisoners 
began  their  march  [to  Winchester,  Virginia,  and  Fort 
Frederick  and  Fredericktown,  Maryland]  &  I  set  out  for 
the  Fleet  to  pay  my  respects  &  offer  my  thanks  to  the 
Admiral  for  his  important  services." — Washington's  Journal. 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  247 

The  whole  number  of  prisoners,  exclusive  of  seamen,  amounted  to  seven 
thousand  two  hundred  and  forty-seven,  of  whom  six  thousand  and  thirty- 
nine  were  rank  and  file ;  six  commissioned  and  twenty-eight  non-commis 
sioned  officers  and  privates  had  previously  been  captured  in  the  redoubts,  or 
in  the  sortie  from  the  garrison.  The  British  loss  during  the  siege,  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing,  amounted  to  three  hundred  and  fifty-three.  The 
combined  army  to  which  Cornwallis  surrendered  was  estimated  at  sixteen 
thousand,  of  whom  seven  thousand  were  French,  five  thousand  five  hun 
dred  Continentals,  and  three  thousand  five  hundred  militia.  The  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded  was  two  hundred  and  seventy-four.  The  land  forces 
surrendered  to  General  Washington,  and  became  prisoners  to  Congress  ; 
but  the  seamen,  ships,  and  naval  equipments  were  assigned  to  the  French 
admiral. 

SATUKDAY,   OCTOBER  27. 

Before  Yorktown :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  president  and  professors  of  William  and  Mary  College, 
Williamsburg. 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  28. 

Before  Yorktown :  "  October  28th. — Received  a  Letter 
from  the  Count  de  Grasse,  declining  the  convoy  he  had 
engaged  to  give  the  detachment  for  Wilmington  &  assign 
ing  his  reasons  for  it." — Washington's  Journal. 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER  6. 

Leaves  Yorktown :  Arrives  the  same  day  at  Eltham, 
thirty  miles  from  Yorktown,  and  is  present  at  the  death  of 
John  Parke  Custis,  the  only  son  of  Mrs.  Washington. 

John  Parke  Custis,  while  on  duty  at  Yorktown  as  an  aide  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  was  seized  with  an  attack  of  camp  fever,  and  was  removed 
to  Eltham,  New  Kent  County,  for  better  attention.  He  left  four  young 
children,  the  two  youngest  of  whom,  Eleanor  Parke  and  George  Washing 
ton  Parke,  were  adopted  by  Washington.  Eltham  was  the  residence  of 
Colonel  Basset,  who  married  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Washington. 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER  12. 

At  Fredericksburg,  Virginia :  Visits  his  mother,  and  in 
the  evening  attends  a  ball  given  by  the  citizens  to  the 
French  and  American  officers.  On  the  following  day 


248  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

Washington  arrived  at  Mount  Yernon,  where  he  remained 
until  the  20th. 

THURSDAY,  NOVEMBER  15. 

At  Mount  Vernon:  "If  I  should  be  deprived  of  the 
pleasure  of  a  personal  interview  with  you  before  your  de 
parture,  permit  me  my  dear  Marquis  to  adopt  this  method 
of  making  you  a  tender  of  my  ardent  Yows  for  a  propitious 
voyage,  a  gracious  reception  from  your  Prince,  an  honor 
able  reward  for  your  services,  a  happy  meeting  with  your 
lady  and  friends,  and  a  safe  return  in  the  spring." — Wash 
ington  to  the  Margins  de  Lafayette. 

As  soon  as  the  plan  of  an  operation  against  "Wilmington,  North  Carolina, 
was  abandoned,  in  consequence  of  the  French  admiral  declining  to  afford  an 
escort  to  the  troops,  Lafayette  resolved  to  return  to  France.  The  season 
being  too  far  advanced  to  admit  of  any  further  active  service  till  the  next 
year,  he  was  desirous  of  taking  this  opportunity  to  visit  his  family.  With 
the  approbation  of  General  Washington  he  proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  and 
Congress,  by  resolution  of  November  23,  granted  him  permission  of  absence 
for  such  a  period  as  he  should  think  proper.  The  marquis  sailed  from  Bos 
ton,  December  23,  on  board  the  "  Alliance,"  and  did  not  return  to  America 
during  the  war. 

FRIDAY,  NOVEMBER  16. 

At  Mount  Yernon  :  "  I  shall  remain  but  a  few  days  here, 
and  shall  proceed  to  Philadelphia,  when  I  shall  attempt  to 
stimulate  Congress  to  the  best  improvement  of  our  late  suc 
cess,  by  taking  the  most  vigorous  and  effectual  measures  to 
be  ready  for  an  early  and  decisive  campaign  the  next  year. 
My  greatest  fear  is,  that  Congress,  viewing  this  stroke  in 
too  important  a  point  of  light,  may  think  our  work  too 
nearly  closed,  and  will  fall  into  a  state  of  languor  and  re 
laxation." —  Washington  to  General  Greene. 

TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  20. 

At  Alexandria,  Yirginia:   Receives  and  answers  an  ad 
dress  from  William  Ramsay  and  others,  inhabitants  of  the 
city. 


1781]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  249 

WEDNESDAY,  NOVEMBER  21. 

At  Annapolis,  Maryland :  "  The  general's  arrival  [at  An 
napolis]  was  announced  by  the  discharge  of  cannon,  and  he 
was  accompanied  to  his  excellency  the  governor's  [Thomas 
Sim  Lee],  by  the  honest  acclamations  of  the  whigs ;  a  few 
tories,  to  expiate  their  crimes,  and  shuffle  off  this  oppro 
brium  of  their  characters,  feebly  joined  in  applauding  the 
man,  whose  late  successes  had  annihilated  their  hopes,  and 
whose  conduct  is  a  satire  on  their  principles.  The  presi 
dent  of  the  senate  [George  Plater],  speaker  of  the  house  of 
delegates  [Thomas  Cockey  Dey],  members  of  the  general 
assembly  and  council,  and  many  respectable  citizens  hastened 
to  offer  their  tribute  of  affection,  which  was  richly  repaid 
by  the  engaging  frankness  and  affectionate  politeness  of  the 
reception.  The  evening  was  spent  at  the  governor's  elegant 
and  hospitable  board  with  festive  joy,  enlivened  by  good 
humour,  wit  and  beauty." — Pennsylvania  Packet,  December 
6,  1781. 

"  "When  the  citizens  received  the  pleasing  intimation  of  his  excellency's 
intentions  to  honour  them  with  his  presence,  all  business  ceased,  and  every 
consideration  gave  way  to  their  impatience  to  behold  their  benefactor,  and 
the  deliverer  of  his  country.  On  his  appearance  in  the  streets,  people  of 
every  rank  and  every  age  eagerly  pressed  forward  to  feed  their  eyes  with 
gazing  on  the  man,  to  whom,  under  providence,  and  the  generous  aid  of  our 
great  and  good  ally,  they  owed  their  present  security,  and  their  hopes  of 
future  liberty  and  peace :  the  courteous  affability  with  which  he  returned 
their  salutes,  lighted  up  ineffable  joy  in  every  countenance,  and  diffused  the 
most  animated  gratitude  through  every  breast. 

"  You  would  have  thought  the  very  windows  spoke, 
So  many  greedy  looks  of  young  and  old 
Through  casements  darted  their  desiring  eyes 
Upon  his  visage;  and  that  all  the  walls, 
With  painted  imagery,  had  said  at  once, 
GOD  SAVE  THEE,  WASHINGTON." 

THURSDAY,  NOVEMBER  22. 

At  Annapolis:  "On  the  next  day  [November  22]  the 
general  was  so  obliging  as  to  partake  of  a  public  dinner 


250  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

directed  by  the  legislature,  as  a  mark  of  their  respect,  and 
to  render  the  participation  of  his  company  as  universal  as 
possible.  In  the  evening  the  .city  was  beautifully  illumi 
nated,  and  an  assembly  prepared  for  the  ladies,  to  afford 
them  an  opportunity  of  beholding  their  friend,  and  thank 
ing  their  protector  with  their  smiles.  His  excellency,  to 
gratify  the  wishes  of  the  fair,  crowned  the  entertainment 
with  his  presence,  and  with  graceful  dignity  and  familiar 
ease  so  framed  his  looks,  his  gestures,  and  his  words,  that 
every  heart  o'erflowed  with  gratitude  and  love,  and  every 
tongue  grew  wanton  in  his  praise.  "When  he  retired  from 
the  assembly,  this  was  the  universal  language : 

"  '  Unrival'd  and  unmatch'd  shall  be  his  fame, 
And  his  own  laurels  shade  his  envied  name.' " 

FRIDAY,  NOVEMBER  23. 

Leaves  Annapolis :  "  Annapolis,  November  24. — On  Fri 
day  last  our  illustrious  and  beloved  commander  in  chief 
left  the  city,  attended  by  innumerable  prayers  for  his  health, 
safety  and  happiness." — Pennsylvania  Packet,  December  6, 
1781. 

SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  24. 

At  Baltimore :  "  On  Friday  evening  last  [November  23] 
his  Excellency  General  "Washington  and  his  Lady  arrived 
here  [Baltimore]  from  Virginia,  and  the  next  morning  set 
out  for  Philadelphia," — Maryland  Journal,  November  27, 
1781. 

MONDAY,  NOVEMBER  26. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  Last  Monday  [afternoon]  arrived  in 
this  city  [Philadelphia]  His  Excellency  General  WASHING 
TON,  our  victorious  and  illustrious  commander  in  chief,  with 
his  Lady.  All  panegyrick  is  vain  and  language  too  feeble 
to  express  our  ideas  of  his  greatness.  May  the  crown  of 
glory  he  has  placed  on  the  brow  of  the  genius  of  America, 
shine  with  untarnished  radiance  and  lustre,  and  in  the 


1781]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  251 

brightness  of  its  rays  be  distinctly  seen — WASHINGTON,  THE 
SAVIOUR  OF  HIS  COUNTRY  !" — Pennsylvania  Journal,  Novem 
ber  28, 1781. 

"Washington  remained  in  Philadelphia  until  March  22,  1782,  during 
which  time  he  made  his  head-quarters  at  the  house  of  Benjamin  Chew,  No. 
110  South  Third  Street,  between  Walnut  and  Spruce  Streets.  The  "  Chew 
House"  had  previously  been  occupied  by  Don  Juan  de  Marailles,  the  re 
puted  Spanish  ambassador,  who  died  (April  28,  1780)  at  the  Morristown 
head-quarters,  while  on  a  visit  to  the  Commander-in-Chief.  Kichard  Peters, 
who  was  present  at  an  entertainment  given  by  Marailles  in  1779,  designates 
it  as  "Mr.  Chew's  fine  house  on  South  Third  Street,"  and  says,  on  that 
occasion,  "  the  spacious  gardens  were  superbly  decorated  with  variegated 
lamps,  and  the  edifice  itself  was  in  a  blaze  of  light."  The  "  Chew  House," 
which  was  immediately  north  of  the  "  Powel  House,"  referred  to  in  the 
Itinerary,  January  6,  1779,  was  taken  down  about  1830. 

TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  27. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  Congress  being  informed  of  the  arrival 
of  gen.  Washington  in  this  city :  Ordered,  That  he  have  an 
audience  in  Congress  to-morrow  at  one  o'clock." — Journal 
of  Congress,  November  27,  1781. 

On  the  evening  of  November  27,  Charles  Willson  Peale  exhibited  at  his 
house,  southwest  corner  of  Third  and  Lombard  Streets,  a  number  of  trans 
parent  scenes,  designed  and  executed  by  himself,  for  the  purpose  of  cele 
brating  the  arrival  of  the  Commander-in-Chief.  "  During  the  whole  even 
ing  the  people  were  flocking  from  all  parts  of  the  town  to  obtain  a  sight  of 
the  beautiful  expressions  of  Mr.  Peale's  respect  and  gratitude  to  the  con 
quering  Hero."  The  following  is  a  description  of  some  of  the  paintings: 
"At  the  lower  window,  a  ship  with  the  British  colours  below  the  French, 
and  the  word  CORNWALLIS  on  the  stern,  emblematical,  that  by  the  assistance 
of  the  French  fleet,  Cornwallis  was  captured.  At  the  middle  window, 
above,  the  portraits  of  his  Excellency  General  Washington  and  Count  de 
Rochambeau,  with  rays  of  glory  and  interlaced  civic  crowns  over  their 
heads,  framed  with  palm  and  laurel  branches,  and  the  words  in  transparent 
letters,  SHINE  VALIANT  CHIEFS  ;  the  whole  encircled  with  stars  and  flowers 
de  luce." — Pennsylvania  Packet,  December  4,  1781. 

WEDNESDAY,  NOVEMBER  28. 

At  Philadelphia:  Attends  Congress  according  to  order, 
and,  being  introduced  by  two  members,  receives  and  answers 


252  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1781 

an  address  from  the  president,  John  Hanson.  Receives  and 
answers,  the  same  day,  an  address  from  the  Supreme  Execu 
tive  Council  of  Pennsylvania. 

FRIDAY,  NOVEMBER  30. 

At  Philadelphia :  Is  waited  on  by  Frederick  A.  Muhlen- 
berg,  Speaker,  and  several  members  of  the  House  of  As 
sembly  of  Pennsylvania,  who  present  him  with  an  address, 
which  he  answers. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  10. 

At  Philadelphia :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  trustees  and  faculty  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  11. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  On  Tuesday  evening  of  the  llth  inst. 
his  excellency  the  minister  of  France,  who  embraces  every 
opportunity  to  manifest  his  respect  to  the  worthies  of 
America,  and  politeness  to  its  inhabitants,  entertained  his 
excellency  general  Washington,  and  his  lady,  the  lady  of 
general  Greene,  and  a  very  polite  circle  of  the  gentlemen 
and  ladies,  with  an  elegant  Concert,  in  which  an  ORATORIO, 
composed  &  set  to  music  by  a  gentleman  whose  taste  in  the 
polite  arts  is  well  known,  was  introduced,  and  afforded  the 
most  sensible  pleasure." — Freeman's  Journal,  December  19, 
1781. 

THURSDAY,  DECEMBER  13. 

At  Philadelphia :  A  day  of  thanksgiving  and  prayer  rec 
ommended  by  Congress. 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER  19. 

At  Philadelphia :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  magistrates  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

"December  19,  1781. — Spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  Barges.  My  son  Robert 
[having]  been  on  a  Hunt  at  Frankford  says  that  His  Excel'y  Gen.  "Wash 
ington  was  there." — MS.  Journal  of  Jacob  Hiltzheimer,  of  Philadelphia. 


1781]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  253 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  24. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  Mrs  "Washington,  myself  and  family, 
will  have  the  honor  of  dining  with  you  in  the  way  proposed, 
to-morrow,  being  Christmas  day." — Washington  to  Robert 
Morris. 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  29. 

At  Philadelphia :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  vice-president  and  officers  of  the  American  Philosophical 
Society. 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  30. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  You  have  enhanced  the  value  of  the 
trophies,  with  which  Congress  have  been  pleased  to  honor 
me  in  their  resolve  of  the  29th  of  October,  by  the  polite 
and  affectionate  manner  of  presenting  them." —  Washington 
to  General  Lincoln. 

As  Secretary  of  War  it  devolved  on  General  Lincoln  to  present  to  the 
Commander-in-Chief  two  stands  of  colors  taken  at  Yorktown,  which  had 
been  assigned  to  him  by  Congress :  "  Resolved,  That  two  stands  of  colours 
taken  from  the  British  army  under  the  capitulation  of  York,  be  presented 
to  his  excellency  general  Washington,  in  the  name  of  the  United  States  in 
Congress  assembled." — Journal  of  Congress,  October  29,  1781. 


1782. 


TUESDAY,  JANUARY  1. 

At  Philadelphia :  Is  entertained  at  a  dinner,  given  in  his 
honor,  at  the  City  Tavern,  by  "  The  Society  of  the  Friendly 
Sons  of  St.  Patrick." 

"  This  brilliant  entertainment  was  graced  by  tbe  presence  of  the  bravest 
and  most  distinguished  generals  of  the  allied  army  of  America  and  France, 
Generals  Washington,  Lincoln,  Howe,  Moultrie,  Knox,  Hand,  Mclntosh, 
and  Baron  Steuben — Colonels  Washington,  Smith,  Tilghman,  and  Count 
Dillon,  a  French  officer  of  Irish  descent,  afterward  much  distinguished  in 
the  wars  of  the  French  revolution,  and  Count  de  la  Touche.  The  French 
and  Spanish  ministers  with  their  Secretaries,  &c.,  were  also  present.  Several 
of  the  First  troop  (members  of  the  Society),  Colonels  Charles  and  Walter 
Stewart — Colonels  Elaine  and  Johnston,  with  Kobert  Morris,  Samuel  Mere 
dith,  and  Henry  Hill,  honorary  members." — A  Brief  Account  of  "  The 
Society  of  the  Friendly  Sons  of  St.  Patrick,"  p.  49. 

WEDNESDAY,  JANUARY  2. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  On  "Wednesday  evening  the  2d  in 
stant,  Alexander  Quesnay,  esq.  exhibited  a  most  elegant 
entertainment  at  the  playhouse,  where  were  present  his 
excellency  general  Washington,  the  Minister  of  France,  the 
president  of  the  State,  a  number  of  the  officers  of  the  army 
and  a  brilliant  assemblage  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the 
city,  who  were  invited." — Freeman's  Journal,  January  9, 
1782. 

The  entertainment  was  held  at  the  Southwark  Theatre,  corner  of  South 
and  Apollo  (now  Charles)  Street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth  Streets. 
"After  a  prologue  suitable  to  the  occasion,  EUGENIE  an  elegant  French 
comedy  was  first  presented  (written  by  the  celebrated  M.  Beaumarchais)  and 
in  the  opinion  of  several  good  judges  was  extremely  well  acted  by  the  young 
gentlemen,  students  in  that  polite  language.  After  the  comedy  was  acted 
the  LYING  VALBT  a  farce,  to  this  succeeded  several  curious  dances,  followed 
by  a  brilliant  illumination,  consisting  of  thirteen  pyramidal  pillars,  repre 
senting  the  thirteen  States — on  the  middle  column  was  seen  a  Cupid,  sup- 
254 


1782]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  255 

porting  a  laurel  crown  over  the  motto — WASHINGTON — the  pride  of  his 
country  and  terror  of  Britain.  On  the  summit  was  the  word — Virginia — on 
the  right — Connecticut,  with  the  names  GREENE  and  LA  FAYKTTE — on 
the  left — the  word  Pennsylvania,  with  the  names  WAYNE  and  STUBEN  ; 
and  so  on  according  to  the  birth  place  and  state  proper  to  each  general. 
The  spectacle  ended  with  an  artificial  illumination  of  the  thirteen  columns." 
Alexander  Quesnay  de  Glouvay,  who  had  the  direction  of  this  "  most  ele 
gant  entertainment,"  was  a  French  teacher;  he  resided  in  Second  Street 
between  Chestnut  and  Walnut  Streets. 

FRIDAY,  JANUARY  4. 

At  Philadelphia:  "I  have  remained  at  this  place  ever 
since  you  left  it,  and  am  happy  in  having  discovered  the 
best  disposition  imaginable  in  Congress  to  prepare  vigor 
ously  for  another  campaign.  They  have  resolved  to  keep 
up  the  same  number  of  corps  that  constituted  the  army  of  last 
year,  and  have  urged  the  States  warmly  to  complete  them." 
—  Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

"  P.S. — January  5th.  By  advices  just  received  from  South  Carolina,  the 
enemy  have  evacuated  all  their  posts  in  the  State,  and  have  concentrated 
their  whole  force  in  Charleston.  Wilmington  is  also  evacuated,  and  North 
Carolina  is  freed  from  its  enemies.  The  disaffected  part  of  the  State  are 
suing  for  mercy,  and  executing,  it  is  said,  some  of  their  own  leaders  for 
having  mis-guided  them." 

TUESDAY,  JANUARY  22. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  To  bring  this  war  to  a  speedy  and 
happy  conclusion  must  be  the  fervent  wish  of  every  lover 
of  his  country;  and  sure  I  am,  that  no  means  are  so 
likely  to  effect  these  as  vigorous  preparations  for  another 
campaign.  Whether,  then,  we  consult  our  true  interest, 
substantial  economy,  or  sound  policy,  we  shall  find,  that 
relaxation  and  languor  are  of  all  things  to  be  avoided." — 
Washington  to  Meshech  Weare,  President  of  New  Hampshire. 

"  The  capture  of  Cornwallis,"  said  Count  de  Vergennes  in  a  letter  to  M.  de 
la  Luzerne,  "  should  excite  the  ardor  of  the  Americans,  and  prove  to  them 
that  the  English  are  not  invincible.  Great  preparations  should  be  made  for 
the  next  campaign,  that  advantage  may  be  taken  of  this  loss  on  the  part 
of  the  British.  We  earnestly  desire  that  our  allies  may  profit  by  it.  The 
more  they  multiply  their  exertions,  the  more  certain  will  be  their  success 


256  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1782 

in  procuring  the  tranquillity  of  their  country.  But,  if  they  return  to  their 
accustomed  inactivity,  they  will  give  England  time  to  repair  her  losses,  as 
she  seems  determined  to  do,  and  to  prolong  the  war,  which  it  is  for  the 
interest  of  the  United  States  to  terminate  as  soon  as  possible." 

THUKSDAY,  JANUAKY  31. 

At  Philadelphia:  "The  broken  and  perplexed  state  of 
the  enemy's  affairs,  and  the  successes  of  the  last  campaign 
on  our  part,  ought  to  be  a  powerful  incitement  to  vigorous 
preparations  for  the  next.  Unless  we  strenuously  exert 
ourselves  to  profit  by  these  successes,  we  shall  not  only  lose 
all  the  solid  advantages  that  might  be  derived  from  them, 
but  we  shall  become  contemptible  in  our  own  eyes,  in  the 
eyes  of  our  enemy,  in  the  opinion  of  posterity,  and  even  in 
the  estimation  of  the  whole  world,  which  will  consider  us 
as  a  nation  unworthy  of  prosperity,  because  we  know  not 
how  to  make  a  right  use  of  it." — Washington  to  Meshech 
Weare. 

This,  and  the  letter  of  January  22,  were  written  as  circular  letters  to  the 
governors  of  the  States.  The  first,  relating  to  finance,  contained  arguments 
for  raising  money  adequate  to  the  public  exigencies,  particularly  the  pay 
ment  and  clothing  of  the  troops ;  the  second  transmitted  accurate  returns 
of  the  number  of  men  actually  in  service  from  each  State,  and  urged  the 
completion  of  the  quotas  according  to  the  requisition  of  Congress.  In  both 
of  them  the  Commander-in-Chief  recommended  prompt  preparations  for 
another  campaign.  A  third  letter  was  written  May  4,  in  which,  after 
expressing  his  disappointment  at  not  receiving  the  number  of  men  he  had 
expected,  and  referring  to  the  fact  that  not  one  penny  in  money  for  the 
service  of  the  year  had  been  paid  by  any  State,  he  wrote,  "  While  acting 
in  my  military  capacity,  I  am  sensible  of  the  impropriety  of  stepping  into 
the  line  of  civil  polity.  My  anxiety  for  the  general  good,  and  an  earnest 
desire  to  bring  this  long  protracted  war  to  a  happy  issue,  when  I  hope  to 
retire  to  that  peaceful  state  of  domestic  pleasures,  from  which  the  call  of 
my  country  has  brought  me  to  take  an  active  part,  and  to  which  I  most 
ardently  wish  a  speedy  return,  I  trust  will  furnish  my  excuse  with  your 
Excellency  and  the  legislature,  while  I  request  your  pardon  for  this  tres 
pass." 

FRIDAY,  FEBRUARY  8. 

At  Philadelphia :   Issues  a  proclamation,  offering  "  free 
pardon  to  all  deserters,  as  well  those  who  may  have  joined 


1782]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  257 

the  enemy  as  others,  who  shall  deliver  themselves  up  to 
any  Continental  Officer  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  June 
next." 

SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  9. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  I  am  apprehensive  that  your  Excel 
lency  will  think  me  unmindful  of  a  most  agreeable  piece  of 
duty,  which  I  have  been  directed  to  perform  by  Congress. 
It  is  the  presentation  of  two  of  the  field-pieces  taken  at 
York,  with  an  inscription  engraved  on  them  expressive  of 
the  occasion.  I  find  a  difficulty  in  getting  the  engraving 
properly  executed.  When  finished,  I  shall  with  peculiar 
pleasure  put  the  cannon  into  your  possession." — Washington 
to  Count  de  JRochambeau. 

"  Resolved,  That  two  pieces  of  the  field  ordnance,  taken  from  the  British 
army,  under  the  capitulation  of  York,  be  presented  by  the  commander  in 
chief  of  the  American  army,  to  count  de  Rochambeau ;  and  that  there  be 
engraved  thereon  a  short  memorandum,  that  Congress  were  induced  to 
present  them  from  considerations  of  the  illustrious  part  which  he  bore  in 
effectuating  the  surrender." — Journal  of  Congress,  October  29,  1781. 

MONDAY,  FEBRUARY  18. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  The  King's  speech  at  the  opening  of 
the  British  Parliament  is  firm,  and  manifests  a  determina 
tion  to  continue  the  war,  although  there  is  no  appearance 
of  his  having  made  any  alliances.  This  I  hope  will  prove 
to  the  States  the  necessity  of  complying  with  the  requisitions 
upon  them  for  men  and  supplies.  Every  argument  that  I 
could  invent  to  induce  them  to  it  has  been  made  use  of  by 
me  in  two  sets  of  circular  letters." — Washington  to  General 
Greene. 

MONDAY,  MARCH  18. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  By  late  advices  from  Europe,  and 
from  the  declarations  of  the  British  ministers  themselves, 
it  appears,  that  they  have  done  with  all  thoughts  of  an  ex 
cursive  war,  and  that  they  mean  to  send  but  small,  if  any 

18 


258  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1782 

further  reinforcements  to  America.  It  may  be  also  toler 
ably  plainly  seen,  that  they  do  not  mean  to  hold  all  their 
present  posts,  and  that  New  York  will  be  occupied  in  pref 
erence  to  any  other.  Hence,  and  from  other  indications, 
I  am  induced  to  believe  that  an  evacuation  of  the  Southern 
States  will  take  place." —  Washington  to  General  Greene. 

THURSDAY,  MARCH  21. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  On  Thursday,  the  21st  inst,  a  Com 
mencement  was  held  in  the  hall  of  the  university  of  this 
city  [Fourth  Street  below  Arch],  before  a  very  crowded  and 
polite  audience,  consisting  of  the  honourable  members  of 
the  Supreme  executive  council  of  the  state,  the  members  of 
the  assembly,  his  excellency  general  Washington,  and  his 
family,  with  the  family  of  his  excellency  the  French  minister, 
the  baron  Stuben,  and  a  large  concourse  of  the  most  re 
spectable  citizens." — Freeman's  Journal,  March  27,  1782. 

FRIDAY,  MARCH  22. 

Leaves  Philadelphia :  "  Last  Friday  morning  [March  22] 
his  excellency  general  Washington  left  this  city,  attended 
by  the  hon.  gen.  vice  president  of  the  state  [James  Potter], 
gen.  Reed,  the  late  president,  a  number  of  gentlemen  offi 
cers  of  the  army,  and  also  captain  Morris's  troop  of  city 
light  horse." — Freeman's  Journal,  March  27,  1782. 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  23. 

At  Burlington,  New  Jersey :  Inspects  the  Second  Regi 
ment  of  the  Continental  Corps  of  Artillery  (Colonel  John 
Lamb),  stationed  at  Burlington  and  its  vicinity. 

On  his  way  northward,  "Washington  stopped  at  Morristown,  New  Jersey, 
several  days,  presumably  to  consult,  if  necessary,  with  General  Knox  and 
Gouverneur  Morris,  who  had  been  appointed  (March  11)  to  proceed  to 
Elizabeth  town,  to  meet  other  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  British,  to 
treat  on  the  exchange  of  prisoners.  The  commissioners,  however,  did  not 
meet  until  the  31st,  the  time  having  been  deferred  at  the  request  of  Sir 
Henry  Clinton.  The  principal  objects  of  the  mission — a  cartel  for  the  gen- 


1782]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  259 

eral  exchange  of  prisoners,  a  liquidation  of  all  accounts  on  both  sides  for 
the  maintenance  of  prisoners,  and  provision  for  their  future  support — were 
not  accomplished. 

THURSDAY,  MAECH  28. 

At  Morristown,  New  Jersey :  "  The  spirit  of  enterprise, 
so  conspicuous  in  your  plan  for  surprising  in  their  quarters 
and  bringing  off  the  Prince  William  Henry  and  Admiral 
Digby,  merits  applause ;  and  you  have  my  authority  to  make 
the  attempt,  in  any  manner,  and  at  such  a  time,  as  your 
own  judgment  shall  direct." — Washington  to  Colonel  Matthias 
Ogden. 

Prince  William  Henry,  afterwards  William  IV.,  who  was  serving  as  a 
midshipman  in  the  fleet  of  Admiral  Digby,  was  at  this  time  in  New  York 
with  the  admiral.  How  far  the  attempt  to  capture  them  progressed  is  not 
known ;  but  it  is  supposed  that  the  enemy  became  aware  of  the  plan  and 
took  the  necessary  precautions  to  prevent  it. 

Washington  left  Morristown  on  the  morning  of  March  28,  and  reached 
Newburgh,  New  York,  on  the  31st,  stopping  at  Pompton  and  Ringwood  on 
the  way.  He  was  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Washington  and  an  escort  of  an 
officer,  sergeant,  and  twelve  dragoons. 

SUNDAY,  MARCH  31. 

At  Newburgh,  New  York :  "  March  31st. — His  Excellency 
Gen.  Washington  arrived  at  Newburgh ;  he  had  been  absent 
from  the  main  army  since  the  19th  of  the  preceding  August, 
having  spent  the  winter  at  Philadelphia,  after  the  capture 
of  Earl  Cornwallis." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"April  2d. — Our  General  [Heath]  went  up  to  Newburgh  [from  West 
Point],  to  pay  his  respects  to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  where  he  dined, 
and  returned  at  evening :  Gen.  Washington  established  his  quarters  at 
Newburgh." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

THURSDAY,  APRIL  4. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander  in 
Chief,  having  returned,  and  resumed  the  command  of  the 
main  army,  he  presents  his  thanks  to  Major  General  Heath, 
and  the  troops  which  have  been  employed  under  his  order, 
for  having  preserved  the  important  posts  committed  to  his 


260  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1782 

charge,  and  covered  the  country  so  successfully  against  the 
depredations  of  the  enemy,  during  the  absence  of  the  Gen 
eral." 

Washington's  head-quarters  at  Newburgh,  on  the  Hudson,  eight  miles 
above  West  Point,  were  at  the  "  Hasbrouck  House,"  still  standing,  on  the 
brow  of  a  hill,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city.  The  house,  a  substantial 
stone  building,  one  story  high  with  a  high  sloping  roof,  was  erected  in  1750 
by  Jonathan  Hasbrouck,  and  enlarged  in  1770.  The  property  remained  in 
the  possession  of  the  Hasbrouck  family  until  1849,  when  the  title  became 
vested  in  the  State  of  New  York.  In  1850  it  was  placed  by  act  of  assembly 
in  the  hands  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  village,  to  be  preserved  as  nearly 
as  possible  as  it  was  at  the  time  of  its  occupation  by  Washington.  The 
building  was  at  once  restored  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  board  of 
trustees,  and  the  place  formally  dedicated  on  the  4th  of  July  of  that  year. 
In  1865,  by  the  city  charter,  the  care  of  the  property  passed  to  the  city 
authorities,  where  it  remained  until  1874,  when  the  legislature  appointed, 
by  act  of  May  11,  a  board  of  trustees  to  hold  and  maintain  it. — Ruttenber's 
History  of  Orange  County. 

SATURDAY,  APRIL  6. 

At  West  Point :  "April  6th. — The  Commander  in  Chief 
visited  West-Point,  and  reviewed  the  first  Massachusetts 
brigade.  On  his  arrival  at  the  Point,  he  was  saluted  by  the 
discharge  of  13  cannon." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

TUESDAY,  APRIL  9. 

At  West  Point :  "April  9th. — The  Commander  in  Chief 
reviewed  the  3d  Massachusetts  brigade  and  10th  regiment, 
and  dined  with  our  General." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

SATURDAY,  APRIL  27. 

At  Newburgh :  "  Finding  the  commissioners  appointed 
to  liquidate  the  accounts  of  money  due  for  the  maintenance 
of  prisoners,  and  make  permanent  provision  for  their  future 
support,  have  separated  without  accomplishing  any  thing,  I 
think  it  highly  expedient,  that  measures  should  be  adopted, 
at  this  moment,  for  taking  the  German  prisoners  of  war 
into  our  service.  As  this  measure  has  been  considerably 
agitated,  I  shall  not  amplify  upon  the  justice  and  propriety 


1782]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.  261 

of  it,  which  to  me  seems  very  obvious." —  Washington  to  the 
Secretary  at  War. 

In  November,  1776,  when  it  was  proposed  to  enlist  deserters  and  pris 
oners  into  the  American  army,  "Washington  expressed  his  disapproval  of 
the  measure,  as  being  neither  consistent  with  the  rules  of  war  nor  politic ; 
and  again,  in  March  1778,  in  writing  to  the  President  of  Congress,  he 
objected  to  the  preamble  of  a  resolution  of  February  26,  prohibiting  the 
enlisting  of  deserters  and  prisoners,  which  implied  that  such  enlistments 
had  been  made,  saying  that  if  any  had  been  made,  he  at  least  was  not 
aware  of  it.  His  change  of  opinion  on  this  subject  must  have  been  brought 
about  by  the  difficulty  of  securing  recruits  and  the  continued  expense  of 
maintaining  the  British  prisoners.  The  suggestion  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  acted  on  by  Congress. 

SUNDAY,  APRIL  28. 

At  Newburgh:  "Permit  me  sir,  to  express  the  high 
sense  I  have  of  the  honor  you  have  done  me  in  communi 
cating  the  favorable  opinion  entertained  of  my  conduct  by 
the  Court  and  nation  of  France,  and  to  acknowledge  my 
obligation  to  those  officers,  who  have  inspired  these  Senti 
ments." —  Washington  to  M.  de  la  Luzeme. 

"  I  cannot  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  informing  you  of  the  sentiments 
with  which  the  reports  of  the  French  officers,  on  their  return  to  Versailles, 
inspired  the  court  and  nation  towards  your  Excellency.  Their  testimony 
can  add  nothing  to  the  universal  opinion  respecting  the  great  services, 
which  you  have  rendered  to  your  country  ;  but,  to  the  esteem  and  admira 
tion  of  the  French,  will  henceforth  be  added  a  sentiment  of  affection  and 
attachment,  which  is  a  just  return  for  the  attentions  our  officers  have 
received  from  you,  and  for  the  progress  they  have  made  in  their  profession 
by  serving  under  your  orders." — Luzerne  to  Washington,  April  18. 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  8. 

At  Newburgh :  "  Upon  the  most  mature  deliberation  I 
can  bestow,  I  am  obliged  to  declare  it  as  my  candid  opinion, 
that  the  measures  of  the  enemy  in  all  their  views,  so  far  as 
they  respect  America,  are  merely  delusory,  (they  having  no 
serious  intention  to  admit  our  independence  upon  its  true 
principles),  and  are  calculated  to  produce  a  change  of 
ministers  to  quiet  the  minds  of  their  own  people,  and 
reconcile  them  to  a  continuance  of  the  war ;  while  they  are 


262  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1782 

meant  to  amuse  this  country  with  a  false  idea  of  peace,  to 
draw  us  oft'  from  our  connexion  with  France,  and  to  lull  us 
into  a  state  of  security  and  inactivity,  which  having  taken 
place,  the  ministry  will  be  left  to  prosecute  the  war  in  other 
parts  of  the  world  with  greater  vigor  and  effect." —  Wash 
ington  to  Meshech  Weare. 

FRIDAY,  MAY  10. 

'  At  Newburgli,:  "Just  as  I  was  closing  these  despatches, 
I  received  a  letter  from  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  covering  sundry 
printed  papers,  a  copy  of  which,  with  the  papers,  I  have 
now  the  honor  to  enclose  to  your  Excellency." —  Washington 
to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"New  York,  7  May,  1782. — Having  been  appointed  by  his  Majesty  to 
the  command  of  the  forces  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  joined  with  Admiral 
Digby  in  the  commission  of  peace,  I  find  it  proper  in  this  manner  to  apprize 
your  Excellency  of  my  arrival  at  New  York.  The  occasion,  Sir,  seems  to 
render  this  communication  proper,  but  the  circumstances  of  the  present  time 
render  it  also  indispensable ;  as  I  find  it  just  to  transmit  herewith  to  your 
Excellency  certain  papers,  from  the  perusal  of  which  your  Excellency  will 
perceive  what  dispositions  prevail  in  the  government  and  people  of  Eng 
land  towards  those  of  America,  and  what  further  effects  are  likely  to  follow. 
If  the  like  pacific  dispositions  should  prevail  in  this  country,  both  my 
inclination  and  duty  will  lead  me  to  meet  it  with  the  most  zealous  con 
currence.  In  all  events,  Sir,  it  is  with  me  to  declare,  that,  if  war  must 
prevail  I  shall  endeavour  to  render  its  miseries  as  light  to  the  people  of 
this  continent,  as  the  circumstances  of  such  a  condition  will  possibly  permit." 
— Sir  Guy  Carleton  to  Washington. 

The  papers  enclosed  in  the  letter  were  printed  copies  of  the  proceedings 
in  the  House  of  Commons  on  the  4th  of  March,  respecting  an  address  to 
the  king  in  favor  of  peace,  and  also  a  copy  of  the  bill  reported  in  conse 
quence  thereof,  enabling  his  Majesty  to  conclude  a  peace  or  truce  with  the 
revolted  colonies  in  North  America.  As  this  bill,  however,  had  not  passed 
into  a  law  when  Sir  Guy  left  England,  it  presented  no  basis  for  a  negotia 
tion,  and  was  only  cited  by  him  to  show  the  pacific  disposition  of  the  Brit 
ish  nation,  with  which  he  professed  the  most  zealous  concurrence. 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  22. 

At  Newburgh :  "  With  a  mixture  of  great  surprise  and 
astonishment,  I  have  read  with  attention  the  sentiments 


1782]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  2G3 

you  have  submitted  to  my  perusal.  Be  assured,  Sir,  no 
occurrence  in  the  course  of  the  war  has  given  me  more 
painful  sensations,  than  your  information  of  there  being 
such  ideas  existing  in  the  army,  as  you  have  expressed,  and 
I  must  view  with  abhorrence  and  reprehend  with  severity. 
...  I  am  much  at  a  loss  to  conceive  what  part  of  my  con 
duct  could  have  given  encouragement  to  an  address,  which 
to  me  seems  big  with  the  greatest  mischiefs,  that  can  be 
fall  my  country.  If  I  am  not  deceived  in  the  knowledge 
of  myself,  you  could  not  have  found  a  person  to  whom  your 
schemes  are  more  disagreeable." — Washington  to  Colonel 
Lewis  Nicola. 

In  reply  to  a  letter  in  which,  after  calling  attention  to  the  discontents 
of  the  officers  and  soldiers  respecting  the  arrearages  of  pay,  and  the  prob 
ability  of  no  adequate  provisions  being  made  by  Congress,  Colonel  Nicola 
wrote  that  many  were  led  to  look  for  the  cause  in  the  form  of  government, 
and  to  distrust  the  stability  of  republican  institutions.  From  the  innumer 
able  embarrassments  in  which  the  country  had  been  involved  during  the 
war,  on  account  of  its  defective  political  organization,  he  inferred  that 
America  could  never  become  prosperous  under  such  a  form  of  government, 
and  that  the  English  government  was  nearer  perfection  than  any  other : 
"Therefore  I  little  doubt,  that,  when  the  benefits  of  a  mixed  government 
are  pointed  out,  and  duly  considered,  such  will  be  readily  adopted.  In  this 
case  it  will,  I  bejieve,  be  uncontroverted,  that  the  same  abilities,  which 
have  led  us  through  difficulties,  apparently  insurmountable  by  human 
power,  to  victory  and  glory,  those  qualities,  that  have  merited  and  obtained 
the  universal  esteem  and  veneration  of  an  army,  would  be  most  likely  to 
conduct  and  direct  us  in  the  smoother  paths  of  peace.  Some  people  have  so 
connected  the  ideas  of  tyranny  and  monarchy,  as  to  find  it  very  difficult  to 
separate  them.  It  may  therefore  be  requisite  to  give  the  head  of  such  a 
constitution,  as  I  propose,  some  title  apparently  more  moderate ;  but,  if  all 
other  things  were  once  adjusted,  I  believe  strong  arguments  might  be  pro 
duced  for  admitting  the  title  of  KING,  which  I  conceive  would  be  attended 
with  some  material  advantages." 

Lewis  Nicola  at  the  time  of  writing  this  letter  was  colonel  of  the  corps 
of  invalids,  having  been  appointed  by  Congress,  June  20,  1777.  Previous 
to  this  he  had  acted  as  barrack-master  at  Philadelphia  from  April  20,  1776, 
to  December  2,  1776,  when  he  was  appointed,  by  the  Council  of  Safety  of 
the  State,  town-major  of  Philadelphia.  This  office  he  held  in  connection 
with  that  of  colonel  of  the  invalid  regiment  until  February  5,  1782,  when 
he  was  dismissed  from  the  service  of  the  State  with  the  thanks  of  the  Su- 


264  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1782 

preme  Executive  Council,  there  being  no  further  duty  for  such  an  officer  as 
town-major.     Colonel  Nicola  died  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  in  1809. 

TUESDAY,  MAY  28. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander-in- 
Chief  is  happy  in  the  opportunity  of  announcing  to  the 
army  the  birth  of  a  Dauphin  of  France ;  and,  desirous  of 
giving  a  general  occasion  for  testifying  the  satisfaction  which, 
he  is  convinced,  will  pervade  the  breast  of  every  American 
officer  and  soldier  on  the  communication  of  an  event  so 
highly  interesting  to  a  monarch  and  nation  who  have  given 
such  distinguishing  proofs  of  their  attachment,  is  pleased  to 
order  a,  feu  de  joie  on  Thursday  next." 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  29. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander-in- 
Chief  desires  his  compliments  may  be  presented  to  the 
officers'  ladies  with  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  army, 
together  with  a  request  that  they  will  favor  him  with  their 
company  at  dinner  on  Thursday  next,  at  West  Point.  The 
General  will  be  happy  to  see  any  other  ladies  of  his  own  or 
friends'  acquaintances  on  the  occasion,  without  the  formality 
of  a  particular  invitation." 

THURSDAY,  MAY  30. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  celebration  of  the 
birth  of  the  Dauphin  of  France,  which  was  to  have  taken 
place  this  day,  is  to  be  postponed  until  to-morrow,  the  31st 
inst." 

PKIDAY,  MAY  31. 

At  West  Point :  "  May  31st— The  birth  of  the  Dauphin 
was  celebrated  [at  West  Point]  by  the  American  army.  An 
elegant  dinner  was  provided,  by  order  of  the  Commander- 
in-Chief;  of  which  the  officers  of  the  army,  and  a  great 
number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  invited  from  the  adjacent 
country,  partook.  Thirteen  toasts  were  drank,  announced 


1782]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  265 

by  the  discharge  of  cannon.  At  evening  there  was  a  grand 
feu-de-joy,  opened  by  the  discharge  of  13  cannon,  three 
times  repeated.  The  feu-de-joy,  being  fired  in  the  dusk, 
had  a  pleasing  appearance  to  the  eye,  as  well  as  the  ear ; 
and  was  so  ordered  for  that  purpose." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"At  half  past  eleven  o'clock,  the  celebration  was  concluded  by  the  ex 
hibition  of  fireworks  very  ingeniously  constructed  of  various  figures.  His 
Excellency  General  Washington  was  unusually  cheerful.  He  attended  the 
ball  in  the  evening,  and  with  a  dignified  and  graceful  air,  having  Mrs.  Knox 
for  his  partner,  carried  down  a  dance  of  twenty  couple  in  the  arbor  on  the 
green  grass." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

SATURDAY,  JUNE  15. 

At  ISTewburgh  :  "  The  subjugation  of  America,  so  far  at 
least  as  to  hold  it  in  a  dependent  state,  is  of  too  much  im 
portance  for  Great  Britain  to  yield  the  palm  to  us  whilst  her 
resources  exist,  or  our  inactivity,  want  of  system,  and  de 
pendence  upon  other  powers  prevail.  I  can  truly  say,  that 
the  first  wish  of  my  soul  is  to  return  speedily  into  the  bosom 
of  that  country,  which  gave  me  birth,  and,  in  the  sweet 
enjoyment  of  domestic  happiness  and  the  company  of  a  few 
friends,  to  end  my  days  in  quiet,  when  I  shall  be  called 
from  this  stage." —  Washington  to  Archibald  Cary. 

MONDAY,  JUNE  24. 

At  Newburgh :  "  I  am  at  this  moment  on  the  point  of 
setting  out  for  Albany,  on  a  visit  to  my  posts  in  the  vicinity 
of  that  place.  My  stay  will  not  exceed  eight  or  ten  days, 
and  will  be  shortened  if  any  despatches  should  be  received 
from  you  in  the  mean  time." — Washington  to  Count  de 
Rochambeau. 

WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  26. 

At  Albany,  New  York :  "  Albany,  July  1. — Last  "Wednes 
day  evening  his  Excellency  the  illustrious  General  WASH 
INGTON  and  his  Excellency  the  GOVERNOR  of  this  State 
[George  Clinton],  with  their  suites,  arrived  in  this  city." — 
Pennsylvania  Gazette,  July  17,  1782. 


266  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1782 

THTJKSDAY,  JUNE  27. 

At  Albany :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from  the 
mayor,  aldermen,  and  commonalty  of  Albany,  who  also 
present  him  with  the  freedom  of  the  city  in  a  gold  box. 
"  When  the  Corporation  went  to  present  their  Address,  they 
proceeded  in  procession,  from  the  city  hall.  At  6  o'clock, 
P.M.  the  bells  of  all  the  churches  began  to  ring,  and  con 
tinued  their  joyful  peals  until  sun-set,  when  thirteen  cannon 
were  discharged  from  the  fort  and  the  city  illuminated. 
Who  is  more  worthy  our  love  and  esteem  than  the  GUARDIAN  and 
SAVIOUK  of  his  country!" — Pennsylvania  Gazette,  July  17, 
1782. 

FKIDAY,  JUNE  28. 

At  Albany :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from  the 
minister,  elders,  and  deacons  of  the  Reformed  Protestant 
Dutch  Church  of  Albany. 

SATURDAY,  JUNE  29. 

At  Saratoga,  New  York:  "Albany,  July  2. — On  Satur 
day  he  [Washington]  set  out  to  visit  the  troops,  with  -the 
Governor,  General  Schuyler  and  many  other  gentlemen  of 
distinction.  Brigadier  General  Gansevort  with  forty  volun 
teers  escorted  him  to  Saratoga,  where,  after  surveying  the 
theatre  of  the  glorious  campaign  of  1777,  he  reviewed  the 
first  regiment  of  New  Hampshire,  and  examined  the  Block 
houses  at  that  place.  From  thence  he  went,  the  next  day 
to  Schenectady." — Pennsylvania  Gazette,  July  17,  1782. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  30. 

At  Schenectady,  New  York :  "  Five  miles  from  Schenec 
tady  he  [Washington]  was  received  by  sixty  of  the  principal 
inhabitants  on  horseback  who  attended  him  into  the  town 
amidst  the  ringing  of  bells,  the  firing  of  cannon,  and  every 
other  public  demonstration  of  felicity.  About  one  hundred 
warriors  of  the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  compleatly  armed 
and  painted  for  war,  met  him  without  the  gates.  The 


1782]  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  267 

magistrates,  military  officers  and  respectable  citizens,  who 
had  caused  a  public  dinner  to  be  provided,  seemed  anxious 
to  give  the  most  incontestable  proofs  of  their  gratitude  and 
sensibility  for  the  honor  of  the  visit.  The  general  viewed 
the  town  and  fortifications,  and  returned  to  Albany  the 
same  evening." — Pennsylvania  Gazette,  July  17,  1782. 

MONDAY,  JULY  1. 

Leaves  Albany:  "Albany,  July  2. — Yesterday  morning 
he  [Washington]  went  on  board  his  barge  on  his  way  to  the 
army,  amidst  the  benedictions  of  the  multitude,  leaving  the 
citizens  of  this  country  strongly  impressed  with  the  ideas  of 
a  great  character,  in  which  are  combined  every  public  and 
private  virtue.  " — Pennsylvania  Gazette,  July  17,  1782. 

"  June,  1782.  To  my  Expenditures  in  a  Tour  to  Albany,  Saratoga,  and 
Schenectady  on  a  visit  to  our  Northu  Posts,  £32.8.0." — Washington's 
Accounts. 

TUESDAY,  JULY  2. 

At  Newburgh  :  "  July  2d. — The  Commander-in-Chief 
returned  from  Albany." — Heattis  Memoirs. 

"  On  the  4th,  the  anniversary  of  the  declaration  of  our  Independence  was 
celebrated  in  camp.  The  whole  army  was  formed  on  the  banks  of  the  Hud 
son  on  each  side  of  the  river.  The  signal  of  thirteen  cannon  being  given 
at  West  Point,  the  troops  displayed  and  formed  in  a  line,  when  a  general 
feu  de  joie  took  place  throughout  the  whole  army." — Thacher's  Military 
Journal. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  10. 

At  Newburgh :  "  Sir  Guy  Carleton  is  using  every  art  to 
soothe  and  lull  our  people  into  a  state  of  security.  Admiral 
Digby  is  capturing  all  our  vessels,  and  suffocating  as  fast  as 
possible  in  prison-ships  all  our  seamen,  who  will  not  enlist 
into  the  service  of  his  Britannic  Majesty ;  and  Haldimand 
[Governor-General  of  Quebec]  with  his  savage  allies,  is 
scalping  and  burning  on  the  frontiers.  Such  is  the  line  of 
conduct  pursued  by  the  different  commanders,  and  such 
their  politics." —  Washington  to  Colonel  John  Laurens. 


268  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL   WASHINGTON.         [1782 

THUKSDAY,  JULY  11. 

At  Newburgh :  "  I  have  this  moment  received  a  letter 
from  Count  de  Rochambeau  (by  one  of  his  aids,  in  5  days 
from  Williamsburg)  informing  me  that  he  is  on  his  way  to 
Philadelphia ;  that  he  will  be  there  the  13th  or  14th,  and 
wishes  for  an  interview  with  me :  for  this  purpose  I  shall 
set  out  in  the  morning,  very  early." — Washington  to  General 
Heath. 

SUNDAY,  JULY  14. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  On  Sunday  last  [July  14]  his  Excel 
lency  Gen.  Washington  with  his  suite  arrived  in  this  city 
[Philadelphia]  from  the  northward,  and  on  Saturday  gen. 
count  Rochambeau  from  Virginia." — Freeman's  Journal, 
July  17,  1782. 

MONDAY,  JULY  15. 

At  Philadelphia:  "Last  Monday  His  Excellency  the 
minister  of  France  celebrated  the  birth  of  Monsigneur  the 
Dauphin.  In  the  evening  there  was  a  concert  of  musick  in 
a  room  erected  for  that  purpose.  The  concert  finished  at 
nine  o'clock,  when  the  fireworks  began,  and  at  the  same 
time  began  a  very  brilliant  ball;  this  was  followed  by  a 
supper.  The  presence  of  His  Excellency  General  Washing 
ton  and  Count  Rochambeau  rendered  the  entertainment  as 
compleat  as  could  possibly  be  wished." — Pennsylvania  Packet, 
July  18,  1782. 

"July  15,  1782.  Great  doings  this  evening  at  ye  French  Ambassadors 
(who  lives  at  John  Dickinson's  House  up  Chestnut  St.) — on  account  of  y* 
Birth  of  ye  Dauphin  of  France — feasting,  fireworks,  &c.  for  which  they 
have  been  preparing  for  some  weeks." — Journal  of  Elizabeth  Drinker. 

At  the  conference  held  this  day  between  the  two  commanders,  it  was 
agreed  that  so  long  as  the  French  troops  had  been  put  under  marching 
orders  for  the  north,  they  should  remain  a  few  days  at  Baltimore,  which 
place  it  was  expected  they  would  reach  before  the  end  of  the  month,  till 
further  instructions  or  intelligence  should  be  received ;  and  that,  unless 
special  reasons  might  appear  to  the  contrary,  the  army  should  continue  its 
march  northwardly  and  join  the  American  forces  on  the  Hudson. 


1782]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  269 

MONDAY,  JULY  22. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  Your  favor  of  the  17th  conveying  to 
me  your  Pastoral  on  the  subject  of  Lord  Cornwallis's  cap 
ture  has  given  me  great  satisfaction.  ...  I  have  only  to 
lament  that  the  Hero  of  your  Pastoral  is  not  more  deserv 
ing  of  your  Pen ;  but  the  circumstance  shall  be  placed 
among  the  happiest  events  of  my  life." — Washington  to  Mrs. 
Stockton. 

Mrs.  Richard  Stockton  (Anice  Boudinot)  was  a  woman  of  highly  culti 
vated  mind  and  refined  literary  taste.  Besides  the  "  Pastoral  on  the  sub 
ject  of  Lord  Cornwallis's  capture,"  she  also,  on  the  announcement  of  peace, 
addressed  an  ode  to  Washington  on  that  subject.  His  reply  in  acknowledg 
ment,  dated  Rocky  Hill,  September  2,  1783,  is  thought  to  be  the  most 
sprightly  effusion  of  his  pen. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  24. 

Leaves  Philadelphia :  "  On  "Wednesday  last  his  excellency 
general  Washington  left  this  city  [Philadelphia],  in  order  to 
join  the  main  army  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson." — Free 
man's  Journal,  July  31,  1782. 

From  an  entry  in  his  expense  account,  it  would  seem  that  Washington 
made  his  stopping-place  for  the  night  of  the  24th  at  Pottsgrove  (now  Potts- 
town),  thirty-six  miles  northwest  of  Philadelphia. — "July,  1782.  Exp1  to 
Potsgrove  .  .  £1.13.4— Bethlehem  .  .  £3.17.6." 

THURSDAY,  JULY  25. 

At  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania  :  "July  25,  1782.  Quite  un 
expectedly  and  very  quietly  his  Excellency  Gen.  Washing 
ton  arrived  here  [Bethlehem]  accompanied  by  two  aids  de 
camp  [Colonel  Trumbull  and  Major  Walker],  but  without 
an  escort.  Bro.  Ettwein  and  other  Brethren  went  at  once 
to  pay  their  respects  to  him  [at  the  "  Sun  Inn"].  After 
partaking  of  a  meal  he  inspected  the  choir  houses  and  other 
objects  of  interest  in  the  place,  and  then  attended  the  even 
ing  service,  at  which  Bro.  Ettwein  delivered  a  discourse,  in 
English,  on  the  text :  '  In  all  things  approving  ourselves  as 
the  ministers  of  God,'  &c.  (II.  Cor.  6  :  4)  and  the  choir  ren 
dered  some  fine  music  both  at  the  beginning  and  at  the 


270  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1782 

close.  The  General  manifested  much  friendliness,  and  the 
pleasure  and  satisfaction  which  the  visit  afforded  him  were 
clearly  to  be  inferred  from  his  utterances." — Moravian  Ar 
chives,  MS. 

During  the  Kevolution  the  Moravian  settlement  of  Bethlehem  witnessed 
many  of  the  horrors  and  discomforts  of  war,  a  sore  trial  for  the  peace-loving 
brethren.  The  tramp  of  armed  men  through  its  quiet  borders  began  iri  July, 
1775;  in  December,  1776,  most  of  the  houses  of  the  community  were  taken 
for  hospitals,  prisoners  were  quartered  in  others,  and  many  days  of  "unrest 
at  Bethlehem"  are  noted  in  the  diaries  preserved  in  the  Archives.  But  with 
the  horrors  came  also  some  of  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  war.  Being  in 
the  main  route  of  travel  to  and  from  the  Eastern  States,  Bethlehem  saw 
many  distinguished  soldiers  and  statesmen.  Here,  at  times,  were  Greene, 
Knox,  Gates,  Stirling,  Sullivan,  Schuyler,  Steuben,  De  Kalb,  Pulaski,  De 
Chastellux,  and  Washington;  Samuel  and  John  Adams,  Hancock,  Laurens, 
Livingston,  Boudinot,  Reed,  Rittenhouse,  and  Gerard.  And  here,  in  the 
autumnal  days  of  1777,  Lafayette,  under  the  careful  nursing  of  the  fair 
Moravian  sister  (Liesel  Beckel),  rapidly  recovered  from  the  wound  received 
at  Brandywine. 

FRIDAY,  JULY  26. 

Leaves  Bethlehem :  "July  26. — At  a  very  early  hour  he 
[Washington]  proceeded  on  his  journey  by  way  of  Easton. 
Bro.  Ettwein,  who  had  just  been  contemplating  a  visit  to 
Hope,  accompanied  him  to  the  first  named  place  [Easton], 
and  then  rode  on  ahead,  in  order  to  make  some  preparation 
for  his  entertainment  at  Hope,  where  he  dined  and  also 
looked  about  the  place  with  pleasure." — Moravian  Archives, 
MS. 

The  village  of  Hope,  Sussex  (now  Warren)  County,  New  Jersey,  twenty 
miles  northeast  of  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  where  Washington  and  his  aides 
dined  on  July  26,  was  founded  by  the  Moravians  in  1769.  The  undertaking 
however,  not  proving  a  financial  success,  the  brethren  returned  to  their 
settlements  at  Bethlehem  and  Nazareth  about  1808. 

The  travellers,  in  all  probability,  quartered  for  the  night  at  Sussex  Court- 
House  (now  Newton),  eighteen  miles  beyond  Hope. 

SATURDAY,  JULY  27. 

At  Newburgh :  "  July  27th.  Gen.  "Washington  returned 
to  ISTewburgh  from  Philadelphia." — Heath's  Memoirs. 


1782]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  271 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  6. 

At  Newburgh :  "  You  will,  I  imagine,  have  heard,  before 
this  reaches  you,  of  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Vaudreuil  with  a 
fleet  of  thirteen  ships  of  the  line  on  this  coast.  I  can  give 
no  particulars,  as  I  have  no  official  account  of  his  arrival." 
—  Washington  to  General  Greene. 

After  the  defeat  of  the  French  squadron  in  the  West  India  waters  (April 
12)  by  Admiral  Kodney,  in  which  De  Grasse  lost  seven  vessels  and  was 
himself  made  a  prisoner,  the  command  devolved  upon  the  Marquis  de 
Vaudreuil,  who  received  orders  to  go  to  Boston.  The  fleet,  consisting  of 
thirteen  ships  of  the  line  (of  which  four  were  eighty  guns  and  the  others 
seventy-four),  three  frigates,  and  a  cutter,  arrived  on  the  10th  of  August, 
and  remained  until  December  24,  when,  the  French  troops  having  embarked, 
the  marquis  set  sail  for  Porto  Cabello. 

SATUKDAY,  AUGUST  10. 

At  IS'ewburgh. :  "  August  10th. — The  prospect  of  an  ap 
proaching  peace  brightens;  Gen.  Sir  Guy  Carleton  and 
Admiral  Digby  informed  Gen.  Washington,  that  Mr.  Gren- 
ville  had  gone  over  to  France  on  the  negociation  for  peace, 
and  that  the  independence  of  America  was  acknowledged 
previous  to,  or  as  an  opening  of  the  negociation.  The 
refugees  at  New  York  were  greatly  alarmed  at  the  prospect 
of  peace." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

-'  We  are  acquainted,  Sir,  by  authority,  that  the  negotiations  for  a  general 
peace  have  already  commenced  at  Paris,  and  that  Mr.  Grenville  is  invested 
with  full  powers  to  treat  with  all  parties  at  war,  and  is  now  at  Paris  in  the 
execution  of  his  commission.  And  we  are  likewise,  Sir,  further  made 
acquainted,  that  his  Majesty,  in  order  to  remove  all  obstacles  to  that  peace, 
which  he  so  ardently  wishes  to  restore,  has  commanded  his  ministers  to 
direct  Mr.  Grenville,  that  the  independency  of  the  thirteen  Provinces 
should  be  proposed  by  him  in  the  first  instance,  instead  of  making  it  a  con 
dition  of  a  general  treaty ;  however,  not  without  the  highest  confidence, 
that  the  Loyalists  shall  be  restored  to  their  possessions,  or  a  full  compensa 
tion  made  to  them  for  whatever  confiscations  may  have  taken  place." — Sir 
Guy  Carleton  and  Admiral  Digby  to  Washington,  August  2,  1782. 

SUNDAY,  AUGUST  11. 

At  Newburgh :  "  Having  been  informed  that  Major-Gen- 


272  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1782 

eral  Gates  is  in  Philadelphia,  and  being  now  about  to  make 
my  ultimate  arrangements  for  the  campaign,  I  take  the 
liberty  to  request,  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  inform  me  by 
the  earliest  conveyance  whether  he  wishes  to  be  employed 
in  this  army  or  not." — Washington  to  the  Secretary  at  War. 

Since  the  unfortunate  battle  of  Camden  (August  16,  1780),  General  Gates 
had  been  in  retirement  at  his  seat  in  Berkeley  County,  Virginia.  The  court 
of  inquiry,  ordered  by  Congress  to  examine  into  that  matter,  had  never  been 
convened.  The  subject  was  at  length  brought  forward  anew,  and  on  August 
14,  1782,  it  was  resolved,  "  That  the  resolution  of  the  5th  day  of  October, 
1780,  directing  a  court  of  enquiry  on  the  conduct  of  major-general  Gates,  be 
repealed  ;  and  that  he  take  command  in  the  main  army  as  the  commander- 
in-chief  shall  direct."  General  Gates  rejoined  the  army  at  Verplanck's 
Point  on  ihe  5th  of  October,  and  took  command  of  the  right  wing  as  senior 
officer. 

SUNDAY,  AUGUST  18. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  General  has  the 
pleasure  to  inform  the  army  of  the  total  recovery  of  the 
State  of  Georgia  from  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  On  the 
llth  of  July  the  British  evacuated  Savannah,  leaving  the 
town  and  works  uninjured.  Of  the  citizens  who  have  re 
turned  to  their  allegiance,  nearly  two  hundred  enlisted  into 
the  continental  Battalion  of  Georgia,  and  it  was  expected 
the  corps  would  soon  be  completed  without  any  expense. 
Brigadier-general  Wayne,  who  commanded  in  that  State, 
appears  to  have  merited  great  applause  by  his  conduct 
there." 

FRIDAY,  AUGUST  30. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  Precisely  at  5  o'clock 
to-morrow  morning  the  General  is  to  beat,  on  which  the 
tents  and  baggage  of  the  second  Connecticut  and  third 
Massachusetts  brigades  are  to  be  put  in  the  boats.  At  9 
o'clock  the  Assembly  will  beat,  when  these  brigades  are 
immediately  to  march  and  embark  by  the  right,  proceeding 
in  one  column  to  Verplanck's  Point  in  the  following  order : 


1782]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  273 

1st  Conn.,  2d  Conn.,  1st  Mass,  and  2d  Mass.  Brigades.  .  .  . 
If  the  boats  are  insufficient  to  transport  the  troops,  with 
their  baggage,  without  crowding  or  overloading,  the  sur 
plusage  will  march  by  land  under  proper  officers.  .  .  .  The 
artillery  annexed  to  brigades  will  proceed  by  land  and  join 
their  respective  corps  at  Verplanck's  Point" 

SATURDAY,  AUGUST  81. 

At  Verplanck's  Point :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander- 
in-Chief  cannot  help  expressing  his  thanks  to  the  officers 
commanding  divisions,  brigades  and  corps,  and  to  the  Ad 
jutant  and  Quartermaster-generals  for  their  punctual  atten 
tion  to  the  order  of  yesterday,  by  which  the  first  consider 
able  movement  that  has  been  attempted  by  water  was  made 
with  the  utmost  regularity  and  good  order." 

"  August  31st. — The  army  marched  from  their  different  quarters  this 
morning  and  encamped  at  Verplanck's  point  in  the  evening.  Part  of  the 
troops  came  down  the  river  in  boats,  which  being  in  motion  and  in  regular 
order  on  the  water,  made  a  most  beautiful  appearance." — Thacher's  Military 
Journal. 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  1. 

At  Verplanck's  Point :  "  The  whole  army,  the  garrison 
at  West  Point  excepted,  which  is  left  under  the  command 
of  Major-General  Knox,  moved  down  to  this  ground  yester 
day." —  Washington  to  the  Secretary  at  War. 

This  concentration  of  the  army  from  its  different  points  was  made  in  con 
sequence  of  an  agreement  with  Count  de  Rochambeau  to  form  a  junction 
of  the  French  and  American  forces  on  the  Hudson,  and  also  to  be  nearer 
the  enemy  in  case  any  hostile  attempts  should  be  made  from  New  York ; 
although,  from  the  inactivity  and  pacific  declarations  of  Sir  Guy  Carleton, 
such  attempts  were  not  anticipated.  The  first  division  of  the  French  army, 
which  had  left  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  on  the  23d  of  June,  and  Baltimore 
on  the  27th  of  August,  arrived  at  King's  Ferry  on  the  16th  of  September. 
The  remainder  followed,  the  last  arriving  on  the  18th,  when  the  whole 
crossed  the  river,  and  formed  a  junction  with  the  American  army  on  the 
19th.  Rochambeau  and  his  suite,  preceding  the  troops  to  confer  with  Wash 
ington,  crossed  the  river  on  the  14th.  The  French  encamped  on  the  left  of 
the  Americans,  near  Crampond,  about  ten  miles  from  Verplanck's  Point. 

19 


274  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1782 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  8. 

At  Verplanck's  Point :  "  I  have  the  honor  to  reply  to 
your  Excellency's  letter  of  the  23d  of  August,  and  to  in 
form  you,  that  Major-Generals  Heath  and  Knox  are  nomi 
nated  by  me  to  meet  Lieutenant-General  Campbell  and  Mr. 
Elliott,  as  commissioners  for  the  purpose  of  settling  a  gen 
eral  cartel  for  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  I  propose,  Sir, 
that  the  meeting  be  held  at  Tappan,  as  an  intermediate  and 
convenient  place,  and  that  it  commence  on  the  18th  day  of 
this  month,  at  which  time  my  commissioners  will  attend, 
and  will  be  accompanied  by  the  commissary  of  prisoners." 
—  Washington  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton. 

"September  26th. — The  Commissioners  interchanged  copies  of  their  re 
spective  powers  ;  these  were  to  be  considered  until  the  next  day,  when 
answers  were  to  be  given  in  writing,  whether  the  powers  were  satisfactory 
on  both  sides.  On  examining  the  powers  given  to  the  British  Commis 
sioners,  it  appeared  that  their  doings  would  not  be  conclusive  until  con 
firmed,  and  were  very  short  of  those  held  by  the  American  Commissioners, 
whose  agreement  and  signature  were  to  be  final.  September  27th. — The 
American  Commissioners  stated  to  the  British  Commissioners,  that  the 
powers  with  which  they  were  vested  were  inadequate  to  effect  the  expecta 
tions  of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  and  that  therefore  the  nego- 
ciation  must  be  broken  off.  Of  the  great  difference  of  the  powers  the 
British  Commissioners  were  fully  convinced.  The  American  Commis 
sioners  thought  it  to  be  their  duty,  when  they  gave  their  note  of  objections 
to  the  British  delegated  powers,  to  hand  with  it  a  very  pointed  protest,  in 
behalf  of  the  United  States,  against  that  conduct,  on  the  part  of  the 
British,  which  had  so  long  delayed  the  settlement  of  the  accounts  for  the 
support  of  the  prisoners  of  war,  which  were  in  the  power  of  the  United 
States." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  12. 

At  Verplanck's  Point :  "  That  the  King  will  push  the 
war,  as  long  as  the  nation  will  find  men  or  money,  admits 
not  of  a  doubt  in  my  mind.  The  whole  tenor  of  his  con 
duct,  as  well  as  his  last  proroguing  speech,  on  the  llth  of 
July,  plainly  indicates  it,  and  shows  in  a  clear  point  of  view 
the  impolicy  of  relaxation  on  our  part.  If  we  are  wise,  let 
us  prepare  for  the  worst.  There  is  nothing,  which  will  so 


1782]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  275 

soon  produce  a  speedy  and  honorable  peace,  as  a  state  of 
preparation  for  war ;  and  we  must  either  do  this,  or  lay  our 
account  to  patch  up  an  inglorious  peace,  after  all  the  toil, 
blood,  and  treasure  we  have  spent." — Washington  to  James 
McHenry. 

SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  14. 

At  Yerplanck's  Point:  "September  14th. — The  whole 
army  was  paraded  under  arms  this  morning  in  order  to 
honor  his  Excellency  Count  Rochambeau  on  his  arrival 
from  the  southward.  The  troops  were  all  formed  in  two 
lines  extending  from  the  ferry,  where  the  count  crossed,  to 
head  quarters.  A  troop  of  horse  met  and  received  him  at 
King's  ferry,  and  conducted  him  through  the  line  to  Gen 
eral  Washington's  quarters,  where  sitting  on  his  horse  by 
the  side  of  his  Excellency,  the  whole  army  marched  before 
him  and  paid  the  usual  salute  and  honors.  Our  troops  were 
now  in  complete  uniform  and  exhibited  every  mark  of  sol 
dierly  discipline.  Count  Rochambeau  was  most  highly 
gratified  to  perceive  the  very  great  improvement  which  our 
army  had  made  in  appearance  since  he  last  reviewed  them, 
and  expressed  his  astonishment  at  their  rapid  progress  in 
military  skill  and  discipline.  He  said  to  General  "Washing 
ton  '  you  must  have  formed  an  alliance  with  the  king  of  Prus 
sia.  These  troops  are  Prussians.'  Several  of  the  principal 
officers  of  the  French  army  who  have  seen  troops  of  dif 
ferent  European  nations,  have  bestowed  the  highest  enco 
miums  and  applause  on  our  army,  and  declared  that  they 
had  seen  none  superior  to  the  Americans." — Thacher's  Mili 
tary  Journal. 

"  We  joined  "Washington's  army  at  Kingsferry  on  the  Hudson.  The 
general,  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  France,  and  of  gratitude  for  the  services 
she  has  rendered  America,  made  us  march  between  a  double  line  of  his 
troops,  equipped,  armed  and  clothed  for  the  first  time  in  the  Revolution, 
partly  from  material  and  arms  brought  from  France,  and  partly  from  the 
British  storehouses  taken  from  Cornwallis,  which  the  French  generously 
gave  up  to  the  American  army.  General  Washington  made  his  drums 


276  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1782 

beat  the  French  march  during  the  whole  time  of  this  review,  and  the  two 
armies  met  again  with  evident  marks  of  reciprocal  satisfaction." — Memoires 
de  Rochambeau,  i.  309. 

WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  18. 

At  Verplanck's  Point :  "  I  have  the  pleasure  to  acknowl 
edge  your  favor,  informing  me  of  your  proposal  to  present 
me  with  fifty  copies  of  your  last  publication  for  the  amuse 
ment  of  the  army.  For  this  intention  you  have  my  sincere 
thanks,  not  only  on  my  own  account,  but  for  the  pleasure, 
which  I  doubt  not  the  gentlemen  of  the  army  will  receive 
from  the  perusal  of  your  pamphlets.  Your  observations  on 
the  period  of  seven  years,  as  it  applies  to  British  minds,  are 
ingenious,  and  I  wish  it  may  not  fail  of  its  effects  in  the 
present  instance." — Washington  to  Thomas  Paine. 

u  I  have  the  honor  of  presenting  you  with  fifty  copies  of  my  Letter  to  the 
Abbe  Raynal  [dated  Philadelphia,  August  21,  1782],*  for  the  use  of  the 
army,  and  to  repeat  to  you  my  acknowledgments  for  your  friendship.  I 
fully  believe  we  have  seen  our  worst  days  over.  The  spirit  of  the  war,  on 
the  part  of  the  enemy,  is  certainly  on  the  decline,  full  as  much  as  we  think 
for.  I  draw  this  opinion  not  only  from  the  present  promising  appearances 
of  things,  and  the  difficulties  we  know  the  British  Cabinet  is  in ;  but  I  add 
to  it  the  peculiar  effect  which  certain  periods  of  time  have,  more  or  less, 
upon  all  men.  The  British  have  accustomed  themselves  to  think  of  seven 
years  in  a  manner  different  to  other  portions  of  time.  They  acquire  this 
partly  by  habit,  by  reason,  by  religion,  and  by  superstition.  They  serve 
seven  years  apprenticeship — they  elect  their  parliament  for  seven  years — 
they  punish  by  seven  years  transportation,  or  the  duplicate  or  triplicate  of 
that  term — they  let  their  leases  in  the  same  manner,  and  they  read  that 
Jacob  served  seven  years  for  one  wife,  and  after  that  seven  years  for  another ; 
and  this  particular  period  of  time,  by  a  variety  of  concurrences,  has  obtained 
an  influence  in  their  mind.  They  have  now  had  seven  years  of  war,  and 
are  no  further  on  the  Continent  than  when  they  began.  The  superstitious 
and  populous  part  will  therefore  conclude  that  it  is  not  to  be,  and  the  rational 
part  of  them  will  think  they  have  tried  an  unsuccessful  and  expensive 
project  long  enough,  and  by  these  two  joining  issue  in  the  same  eventual 
opinion,  the  obstinate  part  among  them  will  be  beaten  out ;  unless,  consist 
ent  with  their  former  sagacity,  they  should  get  over  the  matter  by  an  act  of 

*  Written  to  correct  the  errors  in  the  Abbe's  account  of  the  American 
Revolution,  published  in  1781. 


1782]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  277 

parliament  '  to  bind  TIMB  in  all  cases  whatsoever,'  or  declare  him  a  rebel." — 
Thomas  Paine  to  Washington,  September  7,  1782. 

FKIDAY,  SEPTEMBER  20. 

At  Verplanck's  Point:  "  September  20th. — Gen.  Washing 
ton  reviewed  the  French  army;  the  troops  made  a  fine 
appearance." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"  I  found  the  American  army  camped  in  a  place  called  Verplanck's 
Point.  It  consisted  of  about  six  thousand  men,  who  for  the  first  time  since 
the  beginning  of  the  war  were  decently  uniformed,  well-armed,  properly 
equipped,  and  camped  in  tents  of  a  regular  model.  I  passed  through  all 
the  camp  with  pleasure,  astonishment  and  admiration.  All  the  soldiers 
seemed  to  me  well  looking,  robust  and  well-chosen.  The  sentinels  were 
well  equipped,  very  attentive,  sufficiently  well  disciplined  in  the  use  of  their 
arms,  and  so  strong  was  the  contrast  with  the  incorrect  notions  I  had  formed 
concerning  these  troops,  that  1  was  obliged  frequently  to  say  to  myself,  that 
I  beheld  in  this  army  the  same  which  formerly  had  no  other  uniform  than 
a  cap,  on  which  was  written  Liberty.  I  noticed  on  a  little  hill  which  looked 
over  the  camp  an  assemblage  of  tents,  which  I  recognized  easily  as  the 
quarters  of  General  Washington." — Narrative  of  the  Prince  de  Broglie, 
"  Magazine  of  American  History,"  i.  307. 

SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  21. 

At  Verplanck's  Point :  "  September  21st. — The  American 
army  manoeuvred  before  the  Commander  in  Chief,  Gen. 
Rochambeau,  and  many  other  officers.  The  troops  made 
a  handsome  appearance,  and  manoeuvred  well." — Heath's 
Memoirs. 

"  This  day  [September  21]  the  Americans  were  under  arms.  It  was  a 
military  festival  in  honour  of  their  allies.  Their  camp  was  covered  with 
garlands  and  pyramids,  as  so  many  trophies  gratefully  raised  by  the  hands 
of  liberty.  The  army  was  drawn  up  at  the  head  of  their  camp.  Twenty- 
four  battalions  of  the  states  of  New  Jersey,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island, 
Connecticut,  and  New  York  formed  a  line  of  two  miles  extent.  The  most 
exact  uniformity,  the  neat  dress  of  the  men,  the  glittering  of  their  arms, 
their  martial  look,  and  a  kind  of  military  luxury  gave  a  most  magnificent 
appearance  to  this  assemblage  of  citizens  armed  in  defence  of  their  country. 
...  A  discharge  of  cannon  was  the  signal  for  manceuvering.  That  exact 
ness,  order  and  silence  which  distinguish  veteran  armies  was  here  displayed : 
they  changed  their  front,  formed  and  displayed  columns,  with  admirable 
regularity.  The  day  was  terminated  with  an  entertainment  of  more  than 


278  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1782 

ninety  covers,  served  with  true  military  magnificence  in  the  pretorium  of 
the  consul  (for  I  rather  express  myself  thus  than  by  saying  in  the  tent  of 
the  general).  In  fact,  everything  in  this  army  bears  a  particular  character; 
and  things  uncommon  ought  not  to  be  described  by  common  expressions. 
A  band  of  American  music,  which  played  during  the  dinner,  added  to  the 
gaiety  of  the  company." — Letter  from  a  French  officer  to  a  friend,  "  Penn 
sylvania  Packet,"  October  24,  1782. 

MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  23. 

At  Verplanck's  Point :  "  The  situation  of  politics,  I  mean 
European,  is  upon  so  precarious  a  footing,  that  I  really  know 
not  what  account  to  give  of  them.  Negotiations  were  still 
going  on  at  Paris  in  the  middle  of  July;  but  the  prospects 
of  a  peace  were  checked  by  the  death  of  the  Marquis  of 
Rockingham.  Dr.  Franklin's  laconic  description  of  the 
temper  of  the  British  nation  seems  most  apt.  '  They  are,' 
says  he, '  unable  to  carry  on  the  war,  and  too  proud  to  make 
peace.'" — Washington  to  General  Greene. 

"  One  of  my  most  earnest  wishes  was  to  see  Washington,  the  hero  of 
America.  He  was  then  encamped  at  a  short  distance  from  us,  and  the 
Count  de  Rochambeau  was  kind  enough  to  introduce  me  to  him.  Too  often 
reality  disappoints  the  expectations  our  imagination  had  raised,  and  admi 
ration  diminishes  by  a  too  near  view  of  the  object  upon  which  it  had  been 
bestowed ;  but,  on  seeing  General  Washington,  I  found  a  perfect  similarity 
between  the  impression  produced  upon  me  by  his  aspect,  and  the  idea  I  had 
formed  of  him.  His  exterior  disclosed,  as  it  were,  the  history  of  his  life: 
simplicity,  grandeur,  dignity,  calmness,  goodness,  firmness,  the  attributes 
of  his  character,  were  also  stamped  upon  his  features,  and  in  all  his  person. 
His  stature  was  noble  and  elevated ;  the  expression  of  his  features  mild  and 
benevolent ;  his  smile  graceful  and  pleasing ;  his  manners  simple,  without 
familiarity.  .  .  .  Washington,  when  I  saw  him,  was  forty-nine  years  of  age. 
He  endeavored  modestly  to  avoid  the  marks  of  admiration  and  respect  which 
were  so  anxiously  offered  to  him,  and  yet  no  man  ever  knew  better  how  to 
receive  and  to  acknowledge  them.  He  listened,  with  an  obliging  attention, 
to  all  those  who  addressed  him,  and  the  expression  of  his  countenance  had 
conveyed  his  answer  before  he  spoke." — Memoirs  and  Recollections  of  Count 
de  Segur,  p.  281. 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  29. 

At  Verplanck's  Point :  "  September  28th. — The  day  before, 
(the  27th)  Gen.  Washington,  covered  by  the  dragoons  and 


1782]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  279 

light  infantry,  reconnoitred  the  grounds  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river,  below  the  White  Plains ;  and  on  the  29th,  about 
noon,  returned  to  camp." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"  Sep.  1782. — To  the  Expences  of  a  Keconnoitre  as  low  as  Phillipsburg 
&  thence  across  from  Dobbs's  ferry  to  ye  Sound  with  a  large  Party  of  Horse 
.  .  £32.8.0." — Washington's  Accounts. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  2. 

At  Verplanck's  Point :  "  The  evils,  of  which  they  [the 
army]  complain,  and  which  they  suppose  almost  remediless, 
are  the  total  want  of  money  or  the  means  of  existing  from 
one  day  to  another,  the  heavy  debts  they  have  already  in 
curred,  the  loss  of  credit,  the  distress  of  their  families  at 
home,  and  prospect  of  poverty  and  misery  before  them. 
.  .  .  You  may  rely  upon  it,  the  patience  and  long-suffering 
of  this  army  are  almost  exhausted,  and  that  there  never  was 
so  great  a  spirit  of  discontent  as  at  this  instant.  While  in 
the  field,  I  think  it  may  be  kept  from  breaking  out  into  acts 
of  outrage ;  but  when  we  retire  into  winter-quarters,  unless 
the  storm  is  previously  dissipated,  I  cannot  be  at  ease  re 
specting  the  consequences.  It  is  high  time  for  a  peace." — 
Washington  to  the  Secretary  at  War. 

SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  5. 

At  Verplanck's  Point:  "October  5th. — Maj.  Gen.  Gates 
arrived  at  camp." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"I  saw  him  [General  Gates]  at  the  house  of  General  "Washington,  with 
whom  he  had  had  a  misunderstanding.  I  was  present  at  their  first  inter 
view  after  the  disagreement.  This  interview  excited  the  curiosity  of  both 
armies.  It  passed  with  a  most  perfect  propriety  on  the  part  of  both  gen 
tlemen.  Mr.  Washington  treated  Mr.  Gates  with  a  politeness  which  had 
a  frank  and  easy  air,  while  the  other  responded  with  that  shade  of  respect 
which  was  proper  towards  his  general,  but  at  the  same  time  with  a  self- 
possession,  a  nobility  of  manner  and  an  air  of  moderation  which  convinced 
me  that  Mr.  Gates  was  worthy  of  the  successes  he  had  gained  at  Saratoga, 
and  that  his  defeats  had  only  rendered  him  more  worthy  of  respect,  because 
of  the  courage  with  which  he  bore  them.  Such  also  was  the  opinion,  as  far 
as  I  could  gather,  that  other  gentlemen,  both  capable  and  disinterested, 
entertained  concerning  Mr.  Gates." — Narrative  of  the  Prince  de  Broglie 


280  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1782 

THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  10. 

At  Dobbs'  Ferry:  "Oct.  10.— To  the  Expences  of  a  Visit 
to  the  Post  at  Dobbs's  ferry,  etc.  .  .  £7.  10.  0."—  Washing 
ton's  Accounts. 

FRIDAY,  OCTOBER  18. 

At  Verplanck's  Point:  "The  military  operations  of 
the  campaign  are  drawing  to  a  close  without  any  very 
important  events  on  this  side  of  the  water,  unless  the 
evacuation  of  Charleston,  which  is  generally  expected,  but 
not  yet  known  to  me,  should  take  place,  and  form  a 
paragraph  in  the  page  of  this  year's  history." — Washington 
to  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Charleston  was  not  evacuated  by  the  British  until  December  14. 
SATURDAY,  OCTOBER  19. 

At  Verplanck's  Point :  "  In  the  present  quiet  state  of  the 
frontiers,  and  with  assurances  from  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  that 
the  incursions  of  the  savages  are  stopped  by  authority,  I 
have  it  in  contemplation  to  withdraw  the  Continental  troops 
from  the  northward." — Washington  to  Governor  Clinton. 

"  October  19th. — Eight  battalions  have  been  selected  from  the  army  to 
perform  some  grand  manoeuvres  and  a  review.  The  evolutions  and  firings 
were  performed  this  day  with  that  regularity  and  precision  which  does 
them  honor,  and  which  received  the  full  approbation  of  the  numerous  spec 
tators,  and  of  the  American  and  French  officers  who  were  present." — 
Thacher's  Military  Journal. 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  20. 

At  Verplanck's  Point:  "October  20th.— The  Secretary  at 
War  [General  Lincoln]  arrived  at  Camp." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  24. 

At  Verplanck's  Point :  "  October  24th. — The  whole  Ameri 
can  army  manoeuvred  before  the  Hon.  the  Secretary  at 
War.  The  Commander  in  Chief,  in  the  orders  of  the  day, 


1782]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  281 

expressed  his  own,  as  well  as  the  Secretary  at  War's  fullest 
approbation." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

On  October  22  the  French  army  set  out  for  Boston  in  order  to  embark 
for  the  West  Indies,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  the  American  army 
left  Verplanck's  Point,  crossing  the  Hudson  in  boats  to  West  Point  the 
following  day.  On  the  28th  the  troops  reached  New  Windsor  (two  miles 
below  Newburgh),  to  the  west  of  which  they  were  to  build  their  huts  and 
go  into  winter-quarters,  the  last  cantonment  of  the  main  Continental  army. 
Washington  re-established  his  quarters  at  Newburgh,  in  the  "  Hasbrouck 
House,"  which  he  retained  until  August  18,  1783. 

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  30. 

At  Newburgh  :  "  October  30th.  —  The  Commander  in 
Chief,  on  this  day  (30th  of  Oct.),  ordered  the  regiments 
of  the  Massachusetts  line  to  be  .reduced  to  8  regiments,  of 
500  rank  and  file  each,  or  as  near  as  could  be  to  that  num 
ber  :  and  the  Connecticut  line  to  3  regiments  of  similar 
strength,  with  3  Field  Officers,  9  Captains,  19  Subalterns,  1 
Surgeon,  and  1  Mate  each ;  and  the  regiments  were  formed 
accordingly." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

On  the  7th  of  August  Congress  passed  resolutions  directing  the  Secretary 
at  War,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  January,  1783,  to  cause  the  non-com 
missioned  officers  and  privates,  belonging  to  the  lines  of  the  several  States, 
to  be  arranged  in  such  manner  as  to  form  complete  regiments  of  not  less 
than  five  hundred  rank  and  file.  The  regiments  so  formed  to  be  completely 
officered ;  the  officers  to  agree  and  determine  who  should  stay  in  service ;  or 
if  this  could  not  be  eflected  by  agreement,  the  junior  officers  of  each  grade 
were  to  retire. 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  10. 

At  West  Point:  "November  10th. — I  attended  the  funeral 
of  my  late  worthy  friend,  Ensign  Trant.  This  young  gen 
tleman  at  the  age  of  eighteen  came  over  from  Ireland  about 
two  years  since,  and  on  his  arrival  in  Boston,  was  appointed 
an  ensign  in  our  regiment.  .  .  .  His  remains  were  decently 
interred  in  the  garrison  at  West  Point,  and  were  followed 
to  the  grave  by  His  Excellency  General  Washington,  and  a 
very  respectable  procession." — Thacher's  Military  Journal. 


282  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1782 

WEDNESDAY,  NOVEMBER  13. 

At  Newburgh :  "  It  affords  me  singular  pleasure,  to  have 
it  in  my  power  to  transmit  to  you  the  enclosed  copy  of  an 
act  of  Congress,  of  the  7th  instant,  by  which  you  are  re 
leased  from  the  disagreeable  circumstances  in  which  you 
have  so  long  been.  Supposing  that  you  would  wish  to  go 
into  New  York  as  soon  as  possible,  I  also  enclose  a  passport 
for  that  purpose." —  Washington  to  Captain  Charles  Asgill. 

Captain  Charles  Asgill,  son  of  Sir  Charles  Asgill,  had  been  selected  by 
lot  at  Lancaster  (May  27),  from  the  British  prisoners  of  his  own  rank,  to 
be  executed  in  retaliation  for  the  death  of  Captain  Joshua  Huddy,  taken 
prisoner  by  a  party  of  refugees  while  commanding  a  small  body  of  troops  in 
Monmouth  County,  New  Jersey,  and  hanged  April  12.  His  execution  was 
postponed  while  an  investigation  as  to  the  exact  cause  of  Captain  Buddy's 
death  was  being  made  in  the  British  army,  and  the  affair  was  in  suspense 
for  several  months.  In  the  mean  time  Lady  Asgill  had  written  a  pathetic 
letter  to  Count  de  Vergennes,  the  French  minister,  soliciting  him  to  inter 
cede  with  General  Washington.  This  letter,  with  one  from  Vergennes  to 
Washington,  dated  July  29,  were  submitted  to  Congress.  They  were  taken 
into  consideration,  and  it  was  resolved  "  that  the  Commander-in-chief  be 
and  is  hereby  directed  to  set  Captain  Asgill  at  liberty." 

SATUKDAY,  NOVEMBER  16. 

At  Kingston,  New  York:  "On  the  16th  of  November, 
1782,  Kingston  was  honored  by  a  visit  from  General  Wash 
ington.  After  passing  the  night  of  the  15th  with  his  com 
panion-in-arms  Colonel  Cornelius  Wynkoop,  at  his  home 
stead  at  Stone  Ridge  [Marbletown],  he  proceeded  on  his 
way  to  Kingston. 

"  The  arrival  of  the  general  and  his  suite  was  greeted  with 
great  rejoicings  on  the  part  of  the  citizens.  He  put  up  at 
the  public  house  of  Evert  Bogardus,  but  accompanied  by 
his  staff  he  dined  with  Judge  Dirck  Wynkoop  in  Green 
Street.  In  the  evening  there  was  a  gathering  of  ladies  in 
the  Bogardus  ball-room,  which  was  honored  for  a  short 
time  by  the  attendance  of  the  general,  when  the  ladies  were 
severally  introduced  to  him.  The  next  morning  at  an  early 


1782]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  283 

hour  he  left  the  village  and  continued  his  journey." — Schoon- 
maker's  History  of  Kingston,  p.  335. 

"  November  1782. — To  the  Expences  of  a  tour  to  Poughkeepsy — thence  to 
Esopus  [Kingston]  &  along  the  "Western  Frontier  of  the  State  of  New 
York  .  .  .  £43.10.4." — Washington's  Accounts. 

THURSDAY,  NOVEMBER  21. 

At  Newburgh  :  "  Captain  Asgill  has  been  released,  and 
is  at  perfect  liberty  to  return  to  the  arms  of  an  affectionate 
parent,  whose  pathetic  address  to  your  Excellency  could  not 
fail  of  interesting  every  feeling  heart,  in  her  behalf.  I  have 
no  right  to  assume  any  particular  merit  from  the  lenient 
manner  in  which  this  disagreeable  affair  has  terminated. 
But  I  beg  you  to  believe,  Sir,  that  I  most  sincerely  rejoice, 
not  only  because  your  humane  intentions  are  gratified,  but 
because  the  event  accords  with  the  wishes  of  his  most 
Christian  Majesty,  and  his  royal  and  amiable  consort,  who, 
by  their  benevolence  and  munificence,  have  endeared  them 
selves  to  every  true  American." — Washington  to  Count  de 
Vergennes. 

FRIDAY,  DECEMBER  6. 

At  Newburgh  :  M.  de  Chastellux  spends  the  day,  having 
arrived  the  evening  previous,  and  leaves  on  the  7th,  bidding 
a  final  farewell  to  Washington. 

"  We  passed  the  North-river  as  night  came  on,  and  arrived  at  six  o'clock 
at  Newburgh,  where  I  found  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Washington,  Colonel  Tilgham 
[Tilghman],  Colonel  Humphreys,  and  Major  Walker.  The  head  quarters 
of  Newburgh  consist  of  a  single  house,  neither  vast  nor  commodious, 
which  is  built  in  the  Dutch  fashion.  The  largest  room  in  it  (which  was  the 
proprietor's  parlour  for  his  family,  and  which  General  Washington  has 
converted  into  his  dining  room)  is  in  truth  tolerably  spacious,  but  it  has 
seven  doors  and  only  one  window.  The  chimney,  or  rather  the  chimney 
back,  is  against  the  wall ;  so  that  there  is  in  fact  but  one  vent  for  the  smoke, 
and  the  fire  is  in  the  room  itself.  I  found  the  company  assembled  in  a 
small  room  which  served  by  way  of  parlour.  At  nine  supper  was  served, 
and  when  the  hour  of  bed- time  came,  I  found  that  the  chamber,  to  which 
the  General  conducted  me,  was  the  very  parlour  I  speak  of,  wherein  he  had 


284  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1782 

made  them  place  a  camp-bed.  .  .  .  The  day  I  remained  at  head  quarters 
was  passed  either  at  table  or  in  conversation.  General  Hand,  Adjutant 
General,  Colonel  Reed  of  New  Hampshire,  and  Major  Graham  dined  with 
us.  On  the  7th  I  took  leave  of  General  "Washington,  nor  is  it  difficult  to 
imagine  the  pain  this  separation  gave  me ;  but  I  have  too  much  pleasure  in 
recollecting  the  real  tenderness  with  which  it  affected  him,  not  to  take  a 
pride  in  mentioning  it." — De  Chastellux,  ii.  301. 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  7. 

At  Newburgh :  "  The  Count  de  Rochambeau,  who  ar 
rived  here  this  morning,  did  me  the  honor  to  deliver  to  me 
your  letter  of  the  29th  of  November.  ...  I  have  only  now 
to  assure  you  of  my  sincere  wishes  for  your  safe  and  speedy 
arrival  at  the  place  of  your  destination,  and  for  your  success 
and  personal  glory  in  whatever  you  may  undertake." — 
Washington  to  Baron  de  Viomenil. 

"  On  our  return  to  Virginia,  we  paid  another  visit  to  General  Washing 
ton,  at  New  Windsor  [Newburgh].  It  was  here  that  we  took  our  most 
tender  farewell,  and  that  I,  as  well  as  the  officers  who  were  with  me,  re 
ceived  from  .the  American  army  the  assurance  of  their  most  sincere  friend 
ship  for  ever." — Memoir -es  de  Rochambeau. 

The  Count  de  Rochambeau  remained  at  head-quarters  until  the  14th, 
when  he  set  out  for  Annapolis,  from  whence,  in  company  with  the  Marquis 
de  Chastellux  and  General  de  Choisy,  he  sailed  January  11,  1783.  His 
visit  to  Washington  was  made  on  his  return  from  Providence,  where  he 
took  leave  of  the  French  army.  The  command  then  devolved  on  the  Baron 
de  Viomenil,  who  arrived  with  the  troops  at  Boston  during  the  first  week 
of  December,  but  the  embarkation  did  not  take  place  until  the  24th. 

FRIDAY,  DECEMBER  27. 

At  Poughkeepsie,  New  York :  Present  at  the  celebration 
of  the  festival  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  by  King  Solo 
mon's  Lodge  of  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 

A  medal  was  struck  in  1882,  in  commemoration  of  this  visit  to  the 
Poughkeepsie  Lodge,  which  was  founded  April  18,  1777. — See  Baker's 
"  Medallic  Portraits  of  Washington,"  p.  130. 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  29. 

At  Newburgh :  "  It  is  with  infinite  satisfaction,  that  I 
embrace  the  earliest  opportunity  of  sending  to  Philadelphia 


1782]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  285 

the  cannon,  which  Congress  were  pleased  to  present  to 
your  Excellency,  in  testimony  of  their  sense  of  the  illus 
trious  part  you  bore  in  the  capture  of  the  British  army 
under  Lord  Cornwallis  at  York  in  Virginia.  The  carriages 
will  follow  by  another  conveyance.  But,  as  they  were  not 
quite  ready,  I  could  not  resist  the  pleasure,  on  that  account, 
of  forwarding  these  pieces  to  you  previous  to  your  depart 
ure,  in  hopes  the  inscription  and  devices,  as  well  as  the 
execution,  may  be  agreeable  to  your  wishes." —  Washington 
to  Count  de  Eochambeau. 

"Annapolis,  January  11,  1783. — Though  I  was  gone  from  Philadelphia, 
before  the  cannon  arrived  there,  give  me  leave  to  observe,  that  your  usual 
attention  and  politeness  have  been  shown  to  the  last  moment,  of  which  this 
is  a  fresh  proof.  I  write  tq  the  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne  to  keep  them  till 
peace,  when  they  may  be  carried  over  without  danger  of  being  taken.  We 
are  just  getting  under  sail.  In  this  moment  I  renew  to  your  Excellency 
my  sincere  acknowledgments  for  your  friendship,  and  am  with  the  most 
inviolable  personal  attachment  and  respect  your  most  obedient  servant." — 
Rochambeau  to  Washington. 


1783. 


WEDNESDAY,  JANUARY  8. 

At  Newburgh :  "  The  Power  given  to  Mr.  Oswald,  to 
treat  with  any  Commissioner  or  Commissioners  properly 
authorized  from  the  United  States  of  America,  is  more  than 
I  expected  wd.  happen  before  the  meeting  of  Parliament. 
But,  as  the  Gentlemen  on  the  part  of  America  could  not 
treat  with  Him  unless  such  powers  were  given,  it  became 
an  act  of  necessity  to  cede  them  to  effect  their  other  pur 
poses.  Thus  I  account  for  the  indirect  acknowledgment 
of  our  Independence  by  the  King,  who,  I  dare  say,  felt 
some  severe  pangs  at  the  time  he  put  his  hand  to  the  Letters 
Patent.  It  is  not,  however,  less  efficacious  or  pleasing  on 
that  account ;  and  breaking  the  Ice  is  a  great  point  gained." 
—  Washington  to  Robert  R.  Livingston. 

In  the  spring  of  1782,  Richard  Oswald  was  sent  by  the  British  ministry 
to  Paris,  to  confer  with  Dr.  Franklin  on  the  subject  of  peace.  His  mission 
was  initiatory  in  character.  In  July  following,  Parliament  having  passed 
a  bill  to  enable  the  king  to  acknowledge  the  independence  of  the  United 
States,  Oswald  was  vested  with  full  power  to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace, 
and  in  September  the  United  States  appointed  four  commissioners  for  the 
same  purpose.  They  were  John  Adams,  John  Jay,  Benjamin  Franklin, 
and  Henry  Laurens,  all  of  whom  were  in  Europe  at  the  time.  A  prelimi 
nary  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  by  the  commissioners  and  Mr.  Oswald  at 
Paris,  November  30,  1782.  In  April,  1783,  the  preliminary  treaty  having 
been  ratified  by  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  the  latter  vested  David 
Hartley  with  full  powers  to  negotiate  a  definitive  treaty  with  the  American 
commissioners.  It  was  concluded  and  signed  at  Paris,  September  3,  1783, 
by  Hartley,  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain,  and  Dr.  Franklin,  John  Adams, 
and  John  Jay,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States. 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  23. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book.  —  "  The  evacuation  of 
Charlestown  [December  14,  1782],  and  the  total  liberation 

286 


1783]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  287 

of  the  southern  states  from  the  power  of  the  enemy,  are 
important  events,  of  which  the  commander-in-chief  has 
now  received  official  information.  It  is  with  heartfelt  satis 
faction  he  takes  an  early  opportunity  of  making  it  known, 
and  of  congratulating  the  Army  on  the  favourable  prospect 
before  us.  The  enemy,  after  more  than  a  seven  years  war, 
and  all  their  boasted  conquests,  being  now  reduced  to 
narrower  limits  and  a  weaker  force  than  they  were  pos 
sessed  of  seven  years  ago." 

WEDNESDAY,  JANTJAKY  29. 

At  Newburgh  :  Orderly  Book. — "  Thursday,  the  6th  of 
February,  being  the  anniversary  of  the  alliance  with  France, 
a  feu  de  joie  will  be  fired  on  that  day  in  celebration  of  this 
auspicious  event,  by  the  troops  of  this  cantonment ;  previous 
to  which  they  will  be  reviewed  by  the  Commander-in-Chief 
on  their  parades.  The  regiments  to  be  under  arms  pre 
cisely  at  one  o'clock.  .  .  .  After  the  feu  de  joie,  the  General 
will  be  happy  to  see,  not  only  all  the  officers  of  the  canton 
ment,  but  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  army  and  other  gentle 
men  and  ladies  who  can  attend  with  convenience  at  the 
new  Public  Building,  where  a  cold  collation  will  be  pro 
vided." 

THURSDAY,  FEBRUARY  6. 

At  !N"ewburgh :  "  It  is  with  a  pleasure,  which  friendship 
only  is  susceptible  of,  that  I  congratulate  you  on  the  glorious 
end  you  have  put  to  hostilities  in  the  Southern  States.  The 
honor  and  advantages  of  it,  I  hope  and  trust  you  will  long 
live  to  enjoy.  ...  If  historiographers  should  be  hardy 
enough  to  fill  the  page  of  History  with  the  advantages,  that 
have  been  gained  with  unequal  numbers,  (on  the  part  of 
America)  in  the  course  of  this  contest,  and  attempt  to 
relate  the  distressing  circumstances  under  which  they  have 
been  obtained,  it  is  more  than  probable,  that  Posterity  will 
bestow  on  their  labors  the  epithet  and  marks  of  fiction ;  for 


288  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1783 

it  will  not  be  believed,  that  such  a  force  as  Great  Britain 
has  employed  for  eight  years  in  this  country  could  be  baffled 
in  their  plan  of  subjugating  it,  by  numbers  infinitely  less, 
composed  of  men  oftentimes  half  starved,  always  in  Rags, 
without  pay,  and  experiencing  at  times  every  species  of  dis 
tress,  which  human  nature  is  capable  of  undergoing.  I 
intended  to  have  wrote  you  a  long  letter  on  sundry  matters ; 
but  Major  Burnet  popped  in  unexpectedly  at  a  time,  when 
I  was  preparing  for  the  celebration  of  the  day,  and  was  just 
going  to  a  review  of  the  troops,  previous  to  the  feu  de  joie." 
—  Washington  to  General  Greene. 

SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  15. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  New  Building  being 
so  far  finished  as  to  admit  the  troops  to  attend  public  worship 
therein,  after  to-morrow  it  is  directed  that  divine  service 
should  be  performed  there  every  Sunday  by  the  several 
chaplains  of  the  New  Windsor  cantonment,  in  rotation." 

The  "  New  Building,"  rendered  famous  as  having  been  the  place  where 
"Washington,  in  considering  the  "  Newburgh  Addresses,"  read  his  celebrated 
appeal  to  the  officers  of  the  army,  was  a  one-story  frame  structure  put  up 
by  the  labor  and  materials  furnished  by  the  different  regiments.  It  stood 
on  an  eminence  at  New  Windsor,  and  was  "handsomely  finished,  with  a 
spacious  hall,  sufficient  to  contain  a  brigade  of  troops  on  Lord's  days,  for 
public  worship,  with  an  orchestra  at  one  end.  On  the  top  was  a  cupola  and 
a  flag-staff."  *  It  was  also  called  the  "  Temple"  and  the  "  Public  Building," 
and,  although  erected  for  religious  services,  was  used  as  a  meeting-place  for 
general  purposes. 

TUESDAY,  MARCH  4. 

At  Newburgh :  "  The  predicament,  in  which  I  stand  as  a 
citizen  and  soldier,  is  as  critical  and  delicate  as  can  well  be 
conceived.  It  has  been  the  subject  of  many  contemplative 
hours.  The  sufferings  of  a  complaining  army  on  one  hand, 
and  the  inability  of  Congress  and  tardiness  of  the  States  on 

*  Heath's  Memoirs,  p.  358. 


1783]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  289 

the  other,  are  the  forebodings  of  evil,  and  may  be  productive 
of  events,  which  are  more  to  be  deprecated  than  prevented. 
.  .  .  The  just  claims  of  the  army  ought,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  will  have  their  weight  with  every  sensible  legislature 
in  the  United  States,  if  Congress  point  to  their  demands 
and  show,  if  the  case  is  so,  the  reasonableness  of  them,  and 
the  impracticability  of  complying  with  them  without  their 
aid." — Washington  to  Alexander  Hamilton. 

WEDNESDAY,  MARCH  12. 

At  Newburgh :  "  It  is  with  inexpressible  concern  I  make 
the  following  report  to  your  Excellency.  Two  days  ago, 
anonymous  papers  were  circulated  in  the  army,  requesting 
a  general  meeting  of  the  officers  on  the  next  day.  A  copy 
of  one  of  these  papers  is  enclosed.  About  the  same  time, 
another  anonymous  paper,  purporting  to  be  an  address  to 
the  officers  of  the  army,  was  handed  about  in  a  clandestine 
manner.  It  is  also  enclosed.  .  .  .  Since  writing  the  fore 
going,  another  anonymous  paper  is  put  in  circulation,  a 
copy  of  which  is  enclosed." — Washington  to  the  President  of 
Congress. 

After  the  army  went  into  winter-quarters  at  New  Windsor,  they  became 
extremely  dissatisfied  with  the  prospects  of  having  any  settlement  of  the 
long  arrearages  of  pay  and  unadjusted  claims.  In  December,  therefore,  a 
memorial  to  Congress  was  drawn  up,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  carry  it 
to  Philadelphia.  The  committee,  composed  of  General  McDougall,  Colo 
nel  Ogden,  and  Colonel  Brooks,  did  not  meet  with  the  success  they  antici 
pated,  and  the  discontent  increased.  On  the  10th  of  March  anonymous 
notices  were  circulated  in  the  army,  calling  for  a  meeting  of  the  general 
and  field  officers  at  the  "New  Building,"  on  Tuesday,  the  llth,  at  eleven 
o'clock.  At  the  same  time  a  well-written  address  was  also  circulated 
through  the  camp,  which,  in  effect,  advised  the  army  to  take  matters  into 
their  own  hands,  and  to  make  demonstrations  that  should  arouse  the  fears  of 
the  people  and  of  the  Congress,  and  therefore  obtain  justice  for  themselves. 
Washington's  attention  being  called  to  the  matter,  he  referred  to  it  in  gen 
eral  orders  of  the  llth  ;  expressed  his  disapprobation  of  the  whole  proceed 
ings  as  disorderly ;  and  requested  the  general  and  field  officers,  with  one 
officer  from  each  company  and  a  proper  representation  from  the  staff  of 

20 


290  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1783 

the  army,  to  meet  at  the  "  New  Building,"  at  twelve  o'clock,  on  Saturday, 
March  15.  On  the  appearance  of  this,  a  second  anonymous  address  was 
issued,  more  subdued  in  tone,  but  expressing  similar  sentiments  to  the  first. 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  15. 

At  New  "Windsor :  A  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the  army 
at  the  "  New  Building,"  conformably  to  the  notification 
given  in  the  general  orders  of  the  llth,  General  Gates  as 
senior  officer  presiding.  The  meeting  was  opened  by  the 
Commander-in-Chief,  who  read  an  address,  reminding  those 
present  of  the  cause  for  which  they  had  taken  up  arms,  and 
appealing  to  them  not  to  adopt  measures  which  might  cast 
a  shade  over  that  glory  which  had  been  so  justly  acquired, 
and  tarnish  the  reputation  of  an  army  which  was  celebrated 
through  all  Europe  for  its  fortitude  and  patriotism.  "  By 
thus  determining  and  thus  acting,  you  will  give  one  more 
distinguished  proof  of  unexampled  patriotism  and  patient 
virtue,  rising  superior  to  the  pressure  of  the  most  compli 
cated  sufferings ;  and  you  will,  by  the  dignity  of  your  con 
duct,  afford  occasion  for  posterity  to  say,  when  speaking  of 
the  glorious  example  you  have  exhibited  to  mankind,  '  Had 
this  day  been  wanting,  the  world  had  never  seen  the  last 
stage  of  perfection,  to  which  human  nature  is  capable  of 
attaining.' ' 

After  reading  his  address,  "Washington  retired  from  the  meeting  and  left 
the  officers  to  discuss  the  subject  unrestrained  by  his  presence.  The  deliber 
ation  of  the  officers  was  short  and  their  decision  prompt  and  unanimous. 
They  passed  resolutions  thanking  the  Commander-in-Chief  for  the  course 
he  had  pursued  and  expressive  of  their  unabated  attachment,  and  also 
declaring  their  unshaken  reliance  on  the  good  faith  of  Congress  and  their 
country,  and  a  determination  to  bear  with  patience  their  grievances  till  in 
due  time  they  should  be  redressed.  The  anonymous  addresses  were  from 
the  pen  of  Major  John  Armstrong,  an  aide-de-camp  to  General  Gates,  then 
only  twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  who  afterwards  held  important  civil 
offices.  They  were  written  at  the  request  of  several  officers,  who  believed 
that  the  tardy  proceedings  of  Congress,  and  the  reluctance  of  that  body  to 
recognize  the  claims  of  the  public  creditors,  called  for  a  decided  expression 
of  the  sentiments  of  the  army. 


1783]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  291 

SUNDAY,  MARCH  16. 

At  Nevvburgh :  "  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  your  Excel 
lency,  for  the  satisfaction  of  Congress,  that  the  meeting  of 
the  officers,  which  was  mentioned  in  my  last,  was  held  yes 
terday  ;  and  that  it  has  terminated  in  a  manner,  which  I 
had  reason  to  expect,  from  a  knowledge  of  that  good  sense 
and  steady  patriotism  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  army,  which 
on  .frequent  occasions  I  have  discovered." — Washington  to 
the  President  of  Congress. 

TUESDAY,  MARCH  18. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander-in- 
Chief  is  highly  satisfied  with  the  report  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  officers  assembled  on  the  15th  instant,  in  obedience 
to  the  orders  of  the  llth.  He  begs  his  inability  to  com 
municate  an  adequate  idea  of  the  pleasing  feelings  which 
have  been  excited  in  his  breast  by  the  affectionate  senti 
ments  expressed  toward  him  on  that  occasion,  may  be  con 
sidered  as  an  apology  for  his  silence." 

WEDNESDAY,  MARCH  19. 

At  Newburgh  :  "  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  your 
Excellency's  favor  of  the  12th  instant,  and  to  thank  you 
most  sincerely  for  the  intelligence  you  were  pleased  to  com 
municate.  The  articles  of  treaty  between  America  and 
Great  Britain  are  as  full  and  as  satisfactory  as  we  had 
reason  to  expect ;  but,  from  the  connexion  in  which  they 
stand  with  a  general  pacification,  they  are  very  inconclu 
sive  and  contingent." —  Washington  to  the  President  of  Con 
gress. 

The  intelligence  was  the  news  of  the  preliminary  articles  of  peace  be 
tween  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States  having  been  signed  by  the  com 
missioners  at  Paris  on  the  30th  of  November.  The  news  was  brought  by 
the  packet  "  Washington,"  commanded  by  Captain  Barney,  who  sailed  from 
L'Orient  on  the  17th  of  January,  and  arrived  at  Philadelphia  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  12th  of  March. 


292  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1783 

SATURDAY,  MARCH  22. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  In  justice  to  the  zeal 
and  ability  of  the  chaplains,  as  well  as  to  his  own  feelings, 
the  Commander-in-Chief  thinks  it  a  duty  to  declare  that 
the  regularity  and  decorum  with  which  divine  service  is 
performed  every  Sunday  will  reflect  great  credit  on  the 
army  in  general,  tend  to  improve  the  morals,  and  at  the 
same  time  increase  the  happiness  of  the  soldiery,  and  must 
afford  the  most  pure,  rational  entertainment  for  every  serious 
and  well-disposed  mind." 

SUNDAY,  MARCH  30. 

At  Kewburgh :  "  Your  Excellency  will  permit  me,  with 
the  most  lively  sensations  of  gratitude  and  pleasure,  to  re 
turn  you  my  warmest  thanks  for  the  communication,  which 
you  have  been  pleased  to  make  to  me  and  to  the  army, 
of  the  glorious  news  of  a  general  peace ;  an  event,  which 
cannot  fail  to  diffuse  a  general  joy  throughout  the  United 
States,  but  to  none  of  their  citizens  more  than  to  the  officers 
and  soldiers,  who  now  compose  the  army." —  Washington  to 
the  President  of  Congress. 

The  first  intelligence  of  the  signing  of  a  general  treaty  of  peace  at  Paris,  on 
the  20th  of  January,  was  brought  to  America  by  the  "  Triumph,"  a  French 
armed  vessel,  sent  by  Lafayette  from  Count  d'Estaing's  squadron  at  Cadiz. 
It  arrived  at  Philadelphia  in  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  of  March.  The  fol 
lowing  letter  was  received  by  the  President  of  Congress  from  the  Marquis 
de  Lafayette  :  "  Cadiz,  5  February,  1783. — Having  been  at  some  pains  to 
engage  a  vessel  to  go  to  Philadelphia,  I  now  find  myself  happily  relieved 
by  the  kindness  of  Count  d'Estaing.  He  is  just  now  pleased  to  tell  me, 
that  he  will  despatch  a  French  ship,  and,  by  way  of  compliment  on  the 
occasion,  he  has  made  choice  of  the  Triumph.  So  that  I  am  not  without 
hope  of  giving  Congress  the  first  tidings  of  a  general  peace ;  and  I  am 
happy  in  the  smallest  opportunity  of  doing  any  thing  that  may  prove 
agreeable  to  America." 

MONDAY,  MARCH  31. 

At  Newburgh :  "  I  rejoice  most  exceedingly  that  there  is 
an  end  to  our  warfare,  and  that  such  a  field  is  opening  to 
our  view,  as  will,  with  wisdom  to  direct  the  cultivation  of 


1783]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  293 

it,  make  us  a  great,  a  respectable,  and  happy  people ;  but 
it  must  be  improved  by  other  means  than  State  politics,  and 
unreasonable  jealousies  and  prejudices,  or  (it  requires  not 
the  second  sight  to  see  that)  we  shall  be  instruments  in  the 
hands  of  our  enemies,  and  those  European  powers,  who 
may  be  jealous  of  our  greatness  in  union,  to  dissolve  the 
confederation.  But,  to  obtain  this,  although  the  way  seems 
extremely  plain,  is  not  so  easy." —  Washington  to  Alexander 
Hamilton. 

"  It  remains  only  for  the  States  to  be  wise,  and  to  establish  their  in 
dependence  on  the  basis  of  an  inviolable,  efficacious  union,  and  a  firm 
confederation,  which  may  prevent  their  being  made  the  sport  of  Euro 
pean  policy.  May  heaven  give  them  wisdom  to  adopt  the  measures  still 
necessary  for  this  important  purpose." — Washington  to  General  Greene, 
March  31. 

SATUKDAY,  APRIL  5. 

At  Newburgh  :  "  We  stand  now  an  Independent  People, 
and  have  yet  to  learn  political  Tactics.  "We  are  placed 
among  the  nations  of  the  Earth,  and  have  a  character  to 
establish;  but  how  we  shall  acquit  ourselves,  time  must 
discover.  The  probability  is  (at  least  I  fear  it)  that  local  or 
State  politics  will  interfere  too  much  with  the  more  liberal 
and  extensive  plan  of  government,  which  wisdom  and  fore 
sight,  freed  from  the  mist  of  prejudice,  would  dictate;  and 
that  we  shall  be  guilty  of  many  blunders  in  treading  this 
boundless  theatre,  before  we  shall  have  arrived  at  any  per 
fection  in  this  art ;  in  a  word,  that  the  experience,  which  is 
purchased  at  the  price  of  difficulties  and  distress,  will  alone 
convince  us,  that  the  honor,  power,  and  true  Interest  of  this 
Country  must  be  measured  by  a  Continental  scale,  and  that 
every  departure  therefrom  weakens  the  Union,  and  may 
ultimately  break  the  band  which  holds  us  together." — 
Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette. 

WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  9. 

At  Newburgh :  "  I  feel  great  satisfaction  from  your  Ex 
cellency's  despatches  by  Captain  Stapleton,  conveying  to  me 


294  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1783 

the  joyful  annunciation  of  your  having  received  official 
accounts  of  the  conclusion  of  a  general  peace,  and  a  cessa 
tion  of  hostilities.  Without  official  authority  from  Con 
gress,  but  perfectly  relying  on  your  communication,  I  can 
at  this  time  only  issue  my  orders  to  the  American  out-posts, 
to  suspend  all  acts  of  hostilities  until  further  orders.  This 
shall  be  instantly  done ;  and  I  shall  be  happy  in  the  momen 
tary  expectation  of  having  it  in  my  power  to  publish  to  the 
American  army  a  general  cessation  of  hostilities  between 
Great  Britain  and  America." — Washington  to  Sir  Guy  Carle- 
ton. 

"  A  packet  from  England  arrived  in  this  port  last  night,  by  which  I  have 
despatches  from  Mr.  Townshend,  one  of  his  Majesty's  principal  Secretaries 
of  State,  communicating  official  intelligence,  that  preliminary  articles  of 
peace  with  France  and  Spain  were  signed  at  Paris  on  the  20th  of  January 
last,  and  that  the  ratifications  have  been  since  exchanged  at  the  same  place. 
The  King,  Sir,  has  been  pleased  in  consequence  of  these  events,  to  order 
proclamations  to  be  published,  declaring  a  cessation  of  arms,  as  well  by  sea 
as  land ;  and  his  Majesty's  pleasure  signified,  that  I  should  cause  the  same 
to  be  published  in  all  places  under  my  command,  in  order  that  his  Majesty's 
subjects  may  pay  immediate  and  due  obedience  thereto ;  and  such  proc 
lamation  I  shall  accordingly  cause  to  be  made  on  Tuesday  next,  the  8th 
instant." — Carleton  to  Washington,  New  York,  April  6. 

FRIDAY,  APRIL  18. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book.  —  "  The  Commander-in- 
Chief  orders  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  between  the  United 
States  and  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  to  be  publicly  pro 
claimed  to-morrow  at  twelve  at  the  New  Building;  and 
that  the  Proclamation,  which  will  be  communicated  here 
with,  be  read  to-morrow  evening  at  the  head  of  every  regi 
ment  and  corps  of  the  army;  after  which  the  Chaplains 
with  the  several  brigades  will  render  thanks  to  Almighty 
God  for  all  His  mercies,  particularly  for  His  overruling  the 
wrath  of  man  to  His  glory,  and  causing  the  rage  of  war  to 
cease  among  the  nations." 

"  April  19th. — At  noon,  the  Proclamation  of  the  Congress,  for  a  cessation 
of  hostilities,  was  published  at  the  door  of  the  New  Building,  followed  by 


1783]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  295 

three  huzzas ;  after  which  a  prayer  was  made  by  the  Kev.  Mr.  Ganno,  and 
an  anthem,  Independence,  from  Billings  ["  No  King  but  God"]  was  per 
formed  by  vocal  and  instrumental  music.  The  same  day,  Gen.  Washing 
ton  went  for  Ringwood,  to  meet  the  Secretary  at  War,  on  some  business  of 
importance." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

SUNDAY,  APRIL  20. 

At  Newburgh :  "  April  20th. — At  evening,  the  Com 
mander  in  Chief  returned  [from  Ringwood,  New  Jersey]  to 
head-quarters." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"  April  1783. — To  the  Expences  of  a  Trip  to  meet  the  Secretary  at  War 
at  Ringwood  for  the  purpose  of  making  arrangements  for  liberating  the 
Prisoners,  &c.  .  £8.10.8." — Washington's  Accounts. 

SATURDAY,   MAY  3. 

At  Dobbs'  Ferry :  "  May  3d. — In  the  forenoon  the  Com 
mander  in  Chief,  and  Gov.  Clinton,  with  their  suites,  &c. 
went  down  the  river  to  Dobb's  Ferry,  to  meet  Gen.  Sir  Guy 
Carleton.  Four  companies  of  light  infantry  marched  [on 
the  2d]  for  that  place,  to  do  the  duty  of  guards.  Sir  Guy 
was  to  come  up  the  river  in  a  frigate." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"  I  cannot  decline  the  personal  interview  proposed  by  your  Excellency, 
and  purpose  being  in  a  frigate  as  near  Tappan  as  may  be,  where  I  under 
stand  you  mean  to  lodge.  If  I  hear  nothing  from  you  to  occasion  an 
alteration,  I  intend  being  up,  on  the  5th  of  May,  accompanied  by  a  smaller 
vessel  or  two,  for  the  accommodation  of  Lieutenant-Governor  Elliot,  Chief 
Justice  William  Smith,  and  part  of  my  family." — Carleton  to  Washington, 
New  York,  April  24. 

TUESDAY,  MAY  6. 

At  Dobbs'  Ferry :  In  conference  with  Sir  Guy  Carleton, 
in  relation  to  the  evacuation  of  the  posts  in  the  United 
States  in  possession  of  the  British  troops,  and  other  ar 
rangements. 

During  the  conferences  between  the  two  commanders,  which  are  said  to 
have  been  held  at  the  Van  Brugh  Livingston  house,  on  the  height  which 
overlooks  the  Hudson  at  Dobbs'  Ferry,  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  river, 
Washington  made  his  quarters  at  Orangetown  or  Tappan,  on  the  west  side, 
about  two  miles  from  the  ferry. 


296  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1783 

THUKSDAY,  MAY  8. 

At  Dobbs'  Ferry :  "  On  Thursday,  the  8th  May,  the  Amer 
ican  party  dined  on  board  the  sloop  [frigate  ?],  where  they 
were  received  with  military  honors  and  entertained  with 
stately  courtesy  by  Sir  Guy.  When  Washington  and  Clin 
ton  went  on  board  the  British  sloop  of  war  they  were  saluted 
with  the  firing  of  a  number  of  cannon.  When  they  left  the 
sloop  she  fired  seventeen  guns — in  honor  of  Washington's 
exalted  military  rank.  This  was  the  first  complimentary 
salute  fired  •  by  Great  Britain  in  honor  of  an  officer  of  the 
United  States,  and  virtually  the  first  salute  to  the  nation." 
— John  Austin  Stevens,  "  Magazine  of  American  History," 
v.  108. 

FRIDAY,  MAY  9. 

At  Newburgh  :  "  May  9th. — At  evening  the  Commander 
in  Chief  returned  to  head-quarters,  having  had  an  interview 
with  Gen.  Sir  Guy  Carleton." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"  To  Expenditures  upon  an  Interview  with  Sir  Guy  Carleton  at  Orange 
Town  exclusive  of  what  was  paid  by  the  Contract". — Viz  :  At  Birdsalls.  • 
£5.2.6.— Majr  Blauvets  for  the  use  of  his  H"  Furniture  &c.  10  Guin8  a 
37/4.  .  £18.13.4. — Gave  the  Dragoons  to  carry  them  to  their  Quarters.  . 
£5.12.0— Gave  the  Serv".  to  travel  up  by  Land  to  Hd.  Quarters.  .  £3.4.0 
=  Yk.  Cur?.  .  .  £32.11.10."—  Washington's  Accounts. 

SATURDAY,  MAY  10. 

At  Newburgh :  "  I  had  not  the  honor  of  receiving  your 
favor  of  the  1st  instant  until  the  7th.  Being  at  that  time  at 
Orangetown  on  a  conference  with  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  it  had 
a  circuitous  route  to  make  before  it  reached  me.  ...  I 
have  now  the  honor  to  mention  to  you,  as  I  did  some  time 
ago  to  the  Minister  of  France,  that,  viewing  the  peace  so 
near  a  final  conclusion,  I  could  not  hold  myself  justified  in 
a  desire  to  detain  the  troops  under  your  command  from  the 
expectations  of  their  sovereign,  or  to  prevent  their  own 
wishes  of  a  return  to  their  native  country  and  friends." — 
Washington  to  the  Duke  de  Lauzun. 


1783]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  297 

The  French  troops  under  the  Duke  de  Lauzun,  being  part  of  Count  de 
Rochambeau's  army  that  remained  after  the  departure  of  the  main  body  at 
Boston,  sailed  from  the  Capes  of  Delaware  on  the  12th  of  May.  They  had 
been  cantoned  recently  at  Wilmington,  in  the  State  of  Delaware.  Some  of 
these  remaining  troops  had  also  been  stationed  at  Baltimore  under  General 
Lavalette,  being  the  detachment  left  by  Count  de  Rochambeau  at  Yorktown 
to  effect  the  removal  of  the  French  artillery  and  stores  from  that  place. 

THURSDAY,  MAY  15. 

At  Poughkeepsie,  New  York:  "May  15th. — The  Com 
mander  in  Chief  went  for  Poughkeepsie.  A  letter  from 
Gen.  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  to  Gov.  Clinton,  had  rendered  an 
interview  between  the  Governor  and  the  Commander  in 
Chief  necessary." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

"May  16th. — At  evening,  the  Commander  in  Chief  returned  to  head 
quarters." — Heath's  Memoirs. 

MONDAY,  JUNE  2. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Honorable  the  Con 
gress  have  been  pleased  to  pass  the  following  resolve  :  '  RE 
SOLVED,  That  the  Commander-in-Chief  be  instructed  to 
grant  furloughs  to  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  sol 
diers  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  enlisted  to  serve 
during  the  war,  who  shall  be  discharged  as  soon  as  the 
definitive  treaty  of  peace  is  concluded,  together  with  a  pro 
portional  number  of  commissioned  officers  of  the  different 
grades,  and  that  the  Secretary  of  War  and  Commander-in- 
Chief  take  the  proper  measures  for  conducting  those  troops 
to  their  respective  homes,  in  such  a  manner  as  may  be  most 
convenient  to  themselves,  and  the  States  through  which  they 
may  pass,  and  that  the  men  thus  furloughed  be  allowed  to 
take  their  arms  with  them.'  In  consequence  of  the  pre 
ceding  resolution,  colonels  and  commanders  of  corps  will 
immediately  make  return  of  the  number  of  men  who  will 
be  entitled  to  furloughs,  to  the  commanding  officers  of  the 
several  State  Lines,  who  will  make  report  thereof  to  Head 
quarters.  At  the  same  time  returns  are  to  be  made  of  the 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  who  will  not  be  in- 


298  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1783 

eluded  in  the  above  description.  ...  A  sufficient  number 
of  officers  of  the  several  grades  to  command  the  troops 
who  will  remain  in  the  field  must  continue  with  them. 
They  are  requested  to  make  this  a  matter  of  agreement 
among  themselves." 

FKIDAY,  JUNE  6. 

At  Newburgh:  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  "  Generals  and  officers  commanding  regiments  and 
corps,  in  the  cantonment  on  Hudson's  River,"  relative  to 
the  furloughing  of  officers  and  soldiers  without  any  settle 
ment  of  their  accounts. 

"  The  two  subjects  of  complaint  with  the  army  appear  to  be,  the  delay  of 
the  three  months  payment,  which  had  been  expected,  and  the  want  of  a  set 
tlement  of  accounts.  I  have  thought  myself  authorized  to  assure  them, 
that  Congress  had  attended  and  would  attend  particularly  to  their  grievances, 
and  have  made  some  little  variations  respecting  furloughs  from  what  was  at 
first  proposed." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress,  June  7. 

SUNDAY,  JUNE  8. 

At  Newburgh :  Issues  a  circular  letter  addressed  to  the 
governors  of  the  several  States,  pointing  out  the  course 
which  he  deemed  it  the  duty  and  the  interest  of  the  country 
to  adopt. 

"  The  circular  letter  which  he  wrote  to  the  governors  of  the  States,  as 
his  last  official  communication,  and  which  was  designed  to  be  laid  before  the 
several  legislatures,  is  remarkable  for  its  ability,  the  deep  interest  it  mani 
fests  for  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  had  fought  the  battles  of  their  country, 
the  soundness  of  its  principles,  and  the  wisdom  of  its  counsels.  Four  great 
points  he  aims  to  enforce  as  essential  in  guiding  the  deliberations  of  every 
public  body,  and  as  claiming  the  serious  attention  of  every  citizen,  namely, 
an  indissoluble  union  of  the  States;  a  sacred  regard  to  public  justice;  the 
adoption  of  a  proper  military  peace  establishment ;  and  a  pacific  and  friendly 
disposition  among  the  people  of  the  States,  which  should  induce  them  to 
forget  local  prejudices,  and  incline  them  to  mutual  concessions  for  the  ad 
vantage  of  the  community.  These  he  calls  the  pillars  by  which  alone  inde 
pendence  and  national  character  can  be  supported.  On  each  of  these  topics 
he  remarks  at  considerable  length,  with  a  felicity  of  style  and  cogency  of 
reasoning  in  all  respects  worthy  of  the  subject." — Sparks,  i.  395. 


1783]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  299 

In.  quite  a  number  of  publications  the  date  of  this  letter  is  given  as  of 
June  18.  The  transcript,  however,  in  the  Department  of  State,  Washing 
ton,  D.C.,  is  dated  June  8.  The  letter  was  submitted  to  Congress  on  June 
11,  and  referred  to  a  committee,  consisting  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  James 
Madison,  and  Theodoric  Bland,  who  on  the  19th  reported  favorably,  and  it 
was  resolved  that  copies  should  be  transmitted  to  the  several  States. 

TUESDAY,  JUNE  10. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  strength  of  the 
army  in  this  cantonment  being  considerably  diminished  by 
the  number  of  men  lately  furloughed,  the  order  of  the  16th 
of  April,  directing  a  General,  Field-Officers,  and  Quarter- 
Master  to  be  of  the  day,  and  also  a  regiment  to  parade 
every  day  for  duty,  is  dispensed  with.  For  the  present, 
there  will  be  one  Field-Officer,  and  an  Adjutant  of  the  day ; 
and  the  guards  only  will  form  on  the  grand  parade  at  9 
o'clock  in  the  morning." 

The  gradual  falling  away  of  the  main  Continental  army  from  the  canton 
ment  at  New  Windsor  is  recorded  in  Heath's  Memoirs  :  "  June  5th.  The 
Maryland  battalion  marched  from  the  cantonment. — June  6th.  In  the 
forenoon,  the  Jersey  line  marched  from  the  cantonment  to  their  own  State, 
where  they  were  to  be  disbanded. — June  8th.  The  men  for  the  war,  belong 
ing  to  the  Maryland,  New-Jersey,  New- York,  and  New- Hampshire  lines, 
having  marched  from  the  cantonment,  a  division  of  the  Massachusetts  men 
marched  on  this  day. — June  9th.  A  division  of  the  Suffolk  and  Worcester 
furloughed  men,  marched  for  their  own  State,  and  so  on.  a  division  each 
day,  until  the  whole  had  marched. — June  13th.  The  men  who  had  enlisted 
for  3  years,  and  for  shorter  periods  not  expired,  were  formed,  those  belong 
ing  to  Massachusetts  into  4  regiments.  .  .  .  On  the  morning  of  the  16th, 
these  regiments  incorporated,  and  were  formed  into  two  brigades. — June 
20th.  The  troops  at  the  cantonment  were  put  under  orders,  to  be  ready  to 
march  for  West  Point  on  the  succeeding  Monday. — June  23d.  The  Massa 
chusetts  regiments  marched  to  West  Point." 

THURSDAY,  JUNE  19. 

At  ISTewburgh:  "June  19th. — A  number  of  officers  of 
the  army,  viz.  several  general  officers,  and  officers  com 
manding  regiments  and  corps,  met  at  the  New  Building, 
and  elected  his  Excellency  Gen.  "Washington,  President 
General ;  Gen.  M'Dougal,  Treasurer ;  and  Gen.  Knox,  Sec- 


300  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1783 

retary,  pro  tempore,  to  the  Society  of  the   Cincinnati." — 
Heath's  Memoirs. 

"While  contemplating  a  final  separation  of  the  officers  of  the  army," 
says  Doctor  Thacher,  "  the  tenderest  feelings  of  the  heart  had  their  afflicting 
operations.  It  was  at  the  suggestion  of  General  Knox,  and  with  the  acqui 
escence  of  the  Commander  in  Chief,  that  an  expedient  was  devised  by  which 
a  hope  was  entertained  that  their  long  cherished  friendship  and  social  inter 
course  might  be  perpetuated,  and  that  at  future  periods  they  might  annually 
communicate,  and  revive  a  recollection  of  the  bonds  by  which  they  were 
connected."  In  pursuance  of  these  suggestions  a  meeting  was  held  on  the 
10th  day  of  May,  at  which  a  committee  was  appointed  to  revise  the  pro 
posals  for  such  an  institution.  The  report  of  the  committee  was  accepted 
at  a  meeting  held  May  13,  at  the  quarters  of  Baron  Steuben,  in  the  Ver- 
planck  house,  near  Fishkill  Landing,  and  the  "  Society  of  the  Cincinnati," 
with  a  provision  for  the  formation  of  State  Societies,  was  organized.  Wash 
ington  officiated  as  president  until  his  death. 

FKIDAY,  JUNE  20 

At  Newburgh  :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  troops  of  this  can 
tonment  [New  "Windsor]  will  march  on  Monday  morning, 
5  o'clock,  by  the  left.  The  senior  Brigadier  on  the  Massa 
chusetts  Line  will  conduct  the  column  over  Butter  Hill  to 
West  Point.  .  .  .  These  corps,  with  the  troops  at  West 
Point,  will  compose  the  garrisons  of  that  post  and  its  de 
pendencies.  Major-general  Knox  will  be  pleased  to  expe 
dite  in  the  best  manner  he  is  able  the  building  of  an  arsenal 
and  magazines,  agreeably  to  the  instructions  he  hath  re 
ceived  from  the  Secretary  at  War.  As  soon  as  the  troops 
are  collected  at  West  Point,  an  accurate  inspection  is  to 
take  place,  in  consequence  of  which  all  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates  who  are  incapable  of  service,  except  in 
the  corps  of  invalids,  are  to  be  discharged,  and  the  names 
of  all  the  men  whose  time  of  service  will  expire  within  a 
month  are  also  to  be  reported  to  Head-quarters." 

TUESDAY,  JUNE  24. 

At  Newburgh  :  "  The  men  engaged  to  serve  three  years 
were  formed  into  regiments  and  corps  in  the  following 


1783]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  301 

manner ;  namely,  the  troops  of  Massachusetts  compose  four 
regiments;  Connecticut,  one  regiment;  New  Hampshire, 
five  companies ;  Rhode  Island,  two  companies ;  Massachu 
setts  artillery,  three  companies ;  and  New  York  artillery, 
two  companies.  The  army  being  thus  reduced  to  merely  a 
competent  garrison  for  West  Point,  that  being  the  only  ob 
ject  of  importance  in  this  quarter,  and  it  being  necessary  to 
employ  a  considerable  part  of  the  men  in  building  an  arsenal 
and  magazines  at  that  post,  agreeably  to  the  directions 
given  by  the  secretary  at  war,  the  troops  accordingly  broke 
up  the  cantonment  [at  New  Windsor]  yesterday,  and  re 
moved  to  that  garrison,  where  Major-General  Knox  still 
retains  the  command." — Washington  to  the  President  of  Con 
gress. 

TUESDAY,  JULY  8. 

At  Newburgh :  "  It  now  rests  with  the  Confederated 
Powers,  by  the  line  of  conduct  they  mean  to  adopt,  to  make 
this  Country  great,  happy  and  respectable ;  or  to  sink  it 
into  littleness — worse  perhaps — into  Anarchy  and  confusion ; 
for  certain  I  am,  that  unless  adequate  Powers  are  given  to 
Congress  for  the  general  purposes  of  the  Federal  Union,  that 
we  shall  soon  moulder  into  dust  and  become  contemptible 
in  the  eyes  of  Europe,  if  we  are  not  made  the  sport  of  their 
Politicks." —  Washington  to  Dr.  William  Gordon. 

THURSDAY,  JULY  10. 

At  Newburgh :  "  I  cannot  sufficiently  express  my  sensi 
bility  for  your  kind  congratulations  on  the  favorable  termi 
nation  of  the  War,  and  for  the  flattering  manner  in  which 
you  are  pleased  to  speak  of  my  instrumentality  in  effecting 
a  revolution,  which  I  can  truly  aver,  was  not  in  the  begin 
ning  premeditated ;  but  the  result  of  dire  necessity  brought 
about  by  the  persecuting  spirit  of  the  British  Government. 
This  no  man  can  speak  to  with  more  certainty,  or  assert 
upon  better  grounds  than  myself — as  I  was  a  member  of 


302  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1783 

Congress  in  the  Councils  of  America  till  the  affair  at 
Bunker  Hill,  and  was  an  attentive  observer  and  witness  to 
those  interesting  and  painful  struggles  for  accommodation, 
and  redress  of  grievances  in  a  Constitutional  way,  which  all 
the  world  saw  and  must  have  approved,  except  the  igno 
rant,  deluded  and  designing." — Washington  to  George  William 
Fairfax. 

WEDNESDAY,  JULY  16. 

At  Newburgh :  "  I  have  resolved  to  wear  away  a  little 
time  [while  expecting  the  definitive  treaty],  in  performing 
a  tour  to  the  northward,  as  far  as  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point,  and  perhaps  as  far  up  the  Mohawk  River  as  Fort 
Schuyler.  I  shall  leave  this  place  on  Friday  next,  and  shall 
probably  be  gone  about  two  weeks." —  Washington  to  the  Presi 
dent  of  Congress. 

Washington  left  head-quarters  on  July  18,  in  company  with  Governor 
Clinton;  passed  Albany,  Old  Saratoga,  Fort  Edward,  Lake  George,  Ticon 
deroga,  Crown  Point,  and  returned  by  way  of  Ballston  and  Schenectady ; 
thence  up  the  Mohawk  to  Port  Schuyler  (formerly  Fort  Stanwix),  and  over 
to  Wood  Creek ;  thence  down  across  to  Otsego  Lake,  and  over  the  portage 
to  the  Mohawk,  arriving  at  Albany  on  August  4,  and  at  Newburgh  on  the 
following  day. 

WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  6. 

At  Newburgh :  "  After  a  tour  of  at  least  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  miles,  performed  in  nineteen  days,  I  returned  to 
this  place  yesterday  afternoon,  where  I  found  your  favor  of 
the  31st  ultimo,  intimating  a  resolution  of  Congress  for 
calling  me  to  Princeton,  partly,  as  it  would  seem,  on  my 
own  account,  and  partly  for  the  purpose  of  giving  aid  to 
Congress." — Washington  to  James  McHenry. 

In  consequence  of  some  riotous  demonstrations  on  the  part  of  a  small 
body  of  Pennsylvania  troops,  against  the  State  government,  Congress, 
deeming  themselves  unsafe  at  Philadelphia,  had  adjourned  on  June  21,  and 
reassembled  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  on  the  30th.  The  resolution  of 
Congress,  requesting  the  attendance  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  was  passed 
July  28. 


1783]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  303 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  12. 

At  Newburgh :  "  I  have  received  a  call  from  Congress 
to  repair  to  Princeton.  ...  As  this  will  remove  me  to  a 
distance,  and  may  for  a  considerable  time  separate  us,  and 
prevent  frequent  personal  Interviews;  I  should  be  much 
obliged  to  you  for  intimating  to  me — before  I  go — what 
will  be  necessary  for  me  to  do  respecting  our  purchase  of 
the  Saratoga  Springs." —  Washington  to  Governor  Clinton. 

On  their  return  from  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  in  the  month  of 
July,  Washington  and  Governor  Clinton  stopped  at  the  High  Rock  Spring, 
where  the  village  of  Saratoga  Springs  now  stands.  Being  strongly  im 
pressed  with  the  value  of  the  water  and  the  importance  of  the  surrounding 
land,  they  determined  to  purchase  it,  the  necessary  arrangements  being  left 
to  Governor  Clinton.  It  was  found,  however,  that  some  members  of  the 
Livingston  family  had  already  secured  the  land.  The  High  Rock  and  Flat 
Eock  Springs  were  the  only  ones  known  at  the  time. 

SATURDAY,  AUGUST  16. 

At  Xewburgh :  Answers  an  address  (dated  July  10)  from 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Common 
wealth  of  Massachusetts,  in  general  court  assembled,  con 
gratulating  him  on  the  return  of  peace. 

After  referring  to  the  happy  return  of  peace,  with  expressions  of  grati 
tude  to  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  universe,  the  wise  conduct  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  in  discharging  his  important  trust,  and  the  hardships  he 
endured,  the  address  concludes  in  the  following  words :  "  While  patriots 
shall  not  cease  to  applaud  the  sacred  attachment  which  you  have  constantly 
manifested  to  the  rights  of  citizens — too  often  violated  by  men  in  arms  ! 
your  military  virtues  and  atchievements  will  be  deeply  recorded  in  the 
breasts  of  your  countrymen  and  their  posterity,  and  make  the  brightest 
pages  in  the  history  of  mankind." 

SUNDAY,  AUGUST  17. 

At  Newburgh :  Orderly  Book. — "  The  Commander-in- 
Chief,  having  been  requested  by  Congress  to  give  his 
attendance  at  Princeton,  proposes  to  set  out  for  that  place 
to-morrow;  but  he  expects  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
the  army  again  before  he  retires  to  private  life.  During  his 


304  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1783 

absence  Major-general  Knox  will  retain  command  of  the 
troops,  and  all  reports  are  to  be  made  to  him  accordingly." 

This  is  the  last  order  issued  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  from  the  New- 
burgh  head-quarters.  On  the  following  morning  he  set  out  for  Rocky  Hill, 
New  Jersey,  four  miles  north  of  Princeton,  stopping  at  West  Point  on  his 
way.  An  interesting  incident  of  this  visit  to  West  Point  exists  in  a  mem 
orandum  of  the  weights  of  several  of  the  officers,  taken  on  August  19,  in 
which  Washington's  is  stated  to  be  two  hundred  and  nine  pounds.  He 
arrived  at  Rocky  Hill  on  the  24th. 

MONDAY,  AUGUST  25. 

At  Rocky  Hill,  New  Jersey :  On  this  day  Congress,  in 
session  at  Princeton,  "  being  informed  of  the  arrival  of  the 
commander  in  chief  in  the  neighborhood  of  Princeton : 
Ordered,  That  he  have  an  audience  in  Congress  to-morrow 
at  12  o'clock." 

Washington's  head-quarters  at  Rocky  Hill  (the  last  head-quarters  of  the 
Revolution)  were  at  the  house  of  Judge  Berrien,  which  had  been  engaged  by 
Congress  and  suitably  furnished  for  the  purpose.  The  house  (a  two-story 
frame  building  with  piazzas)  is  still  standing  upon  an  eminence  a  short 
distance  from  the  Millstone  River. 

TUESDAY,  AUGUST  26. 

At  Princeton,  New  Jersey :  Attends  Congress  according 
to  order,  and  being  introduced  by  two  members,  an  address 
is  made  to  him  by  the  President  (Elias  Boudinot),  which  he 
answers. 

"  CONGKBSS  feel  particular  pleasure  in  seeing  your  excellency,  and  in 
congratulating  you  on  the  success  of  a  war,  in  which  you  have  acted  so 
conspicuous  a  part.  It  has  been  the  singular  happiness  of  the  United 
States,  that  during  a  war  so  long,  so  dangerous,  and  so  important,  Provi 
dence  has  been  graciously  pleased  to  preserve  the  life  of  a  general,  who  has 
merited  and  possessed  the  uninterrupted  confidence  and  affection  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  In  other  nations  many  have  performed  services,  for  which 
they  have  deserved  and  received  the  thanks  of  the  public.  But  to  you,  Sir, 
peculiar  praise  is  due.  Your  services  have  been  essential  in  acquiring  and 
establishing  the  freedom  and  independence  of  your  country.  They  deserve 
the  grateful  acknowledgments  of  a  free  and  independent  nation.  These 
acknowledgments,  Congress  have  the  satisfaction  of  expressing  to  your 
excellency." — Journal  of  Congress, 


1783]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  305 

THUKSDAY,  SEPTEMBER  11. 

At  Rocky  Hill :  "  Congress  have  come  to  no  determina 
tion  yet,  respecting  a  Peace  Establishment,  nor  am  I  able  to 
say  when  they  will.  I  have  lately  had  a  conference  with  a 
committee  on  this  subject,  and  have  reiterated  my  former 
opinions,  but  it  appears  to  me,  that  there  is  not  a  sufficient 
representation  to  discuss  Great  National  points;  nor  do  I 
believe  there  will  be,  while  that  Honble.  Body  continue 
their  Sessions  at  this  place." — Washington  to  Governor 
Clinton. 

WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  24. 

At  Princeton  :  Attends  the  annual  commencement  of  the 
College  of  New  Jersey,  the  exercises  being  held  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church. 

After  the  commencement  exercises  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  College 
adopted  the  following  minute :  "  The  Board  being  desirous  to  give  some 
testimony  of  their  high  respect  for  the  character  of  his  Excellency  General 
Washington,  who  has  so  auspiciously  conducted  the  armies  of  America. 
Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Drs.  Witherspoon,  Rodgers,  and  Johnes  be  a  com 
mittee  to  wait  upon  his  Excellency  to  request  him  to  sit  for  his  picture,  to 
be  taken  by  Mr.  Charles  Wilson  Peale  of  Philadelphia.  And  that  this 
portrait  when  finished  be  placed  in  the  Hall  of  the  College,  in  the  room  of 
the  picture  of  the  late  King  of  Great  Britain  (George  the  Second),  which 
was  torn  away  by  a  ball  from  the  American  artillery  in  the  battle  of  Prince 
ton."  On  the  following  day  "  Dr.  Witherspoon  [President  of  the  College] 
reported  to  the  Board  that  his  Excellency  General  Washington  had  de 
livered  to  him  fifty  guineas,  which  he  begged  the  Trustees  to  accept  as  a 
testimony  of  his  respect  for  the  College."  The  picture,  a  full-length,  rep 
resenting  Washington  at  the  battle  of  Princeton,  is  still  owned  by  the 
College. 

SUNDAY,  OCTOBER  12. 

At  Princeton  :  "  Having  the  appearance,  and  indeed  the 
enjoyment  of  peace,  without  a  final  declaration  of  it,  I,  who 
am  only  waiting  for  the  ceremonials,  or  till  the  British  forces 
shall  have  taken  leave  of  New  York,  am  placed  in  an  awk 
ward  and  disagreeable  situation,  it  being  my  anxious  desire 
to  quit  the  walks  of  public  life,  and  under  the  shadow  of  my 

21 


306  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1783 

own  vine  and  my  own  fig  tree  to  seek  those  enjoyments  and 
that  relaxation,  which  a  mind,  that  has  been  constantly  upon 
the  stretch  for  more  than  eight  years,  stands  so  much  in  need 
of.  I  have  fixed  this  epoch  to  the  arrival  of  the  definitive 
treaty,  or  to  the  evacuation  of  my  country  by  our  newly 
acquired  friends." — Washington  to  the  Marquis  de  Chastellux. 

"WHEREAS,  by  the  blessing  of  Divine  Providence  on  our  cause  and 
our  arms,  the  glorious  period  is  arrived  when  our  national  independence  and 
sovereignty  are  established,  and  we  enjoy  the  prospect  of  a  permanent  and 
honorable  peace:  We  therefore,  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled, 
impressed  with  a  lively  sense  of  the  distinguished  merit  and  good  conduct 
of  the  armies  [of  the  United  States  of  America],  do  give  them  the  thanks 
of  their  country  for  their  long,  eminent  and  faithful  services.  And  it  is  our 
will  and  pleasure,  that  such  part  of  the  federal  armies  as  stands  engaged  to 
serve  during  the  war,  and  as  by  our  acts  of  the  26th  day  of  May,  the  llth 
day  of  June,  the  9th  day  of  August,  and  the  26th  day  of  September  last, 
were  furlough.ed,  shall,  from  and  after  the  3d  day  of  November  next,  be 
absolutely  discharged,  by  virtue  of  this  our  proclamation,  from  the  said 
service." — Journal  of  Congress,  October  18,  1783. 

THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  23. 

At  Rocky  Hill :  "  From  many  circumstances  I  think  it 
now  pretty  evident,  that  the  British  will  leave  New  York  in 
all  next  month.  Sir  Guy  Carleton  has  informed  me  verbally, 
through  Mr.  Parker,  that  he  expects  to  evacuate  the  city  by 
the  20th,  and  that,  when  the  transports,  which  were  gone 
to  Nova  Scotia,  returned,  he  should  be  able  to  fix  the  day 
of  his  departure.  In  consequence  of  this  intelligence,  and 
fearful  lest  I  should  not  have  timely  notice,  I  have  this  day 
written  to  General  Knox,  desiring  him  to  confer  with  your 
Excellency,  and  make  every  necessary  arrangement  for 
taking  possession  of  the  city  the  moment  the  British  quit 
it." —  Washington  to  Governor  Clinton. 

It  was  some  time  during  his  occupancy  of  the  "  Berrien  House,"  at  Rocky 
Hill,  that  Washington  sat  to  William  Dunlap,  then  in  his  eighteenth  year, 
for  his  portrait.  In  mentioning  this  fact  (Arts  of  Design,  i.  253),  Mr. 
Dunlap  adds,  "  My  visits  were  now  frequent  to  head-quarters.  The  only 
military  in  the  neighborhood  were  the  general's  suite  and  a  captain's  guard, 


1783]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  307 

whose  tents  were  on  the  green  before  the  Berrian  house,  and  the  captain's 
marque  nearly  in  front.  The  soldiers  were  New  England  yeomen's  sons, 
none  older  than  twenty;  their  commander  was  Captain  Howe,  in  after 
times  long  a  resident  of  New  York.  ...  I  was  quite  at  home  in  every 
respect  at  head-quarters  ;  to  breakfast  and  dine  day  after  day  with  the 
general  and  Mrs.  Washington,  and  members  of  congress,  and  noticed  as  the 
young  painter,  was  delicious."  Dunlap's  early  effort,  a  crayon  drawing, 
possesses  no  particular  significance  in  the  history  of  Washington  portraiture. 

FRIDAY,  OCTOBER  31. 

At  Princeton :  "  On  the  31st  of  October,  the  honorable 
Peter  John  Van  BerckeT,  minister  plenipotentiary  from  their 
high  mightinesses  the  States  General  of  the  United  Nether 
lands,  was  admitted  by  congress  to  an  audience.  The  chev 
alier  de  La  Luzerne,  general  Washington,  the  superintend 
ent  of  finance,  many  other  gentlemen  of  eminence,  together 
with  a  number  of  ladies  of  the  first  character,  assembled  in 
the  chapel  of  Princeton  college  to  participate  of  the  joys 
the  audience  should  afford ;  and  for  which  their  spirits  were 
put  into  proper  tone,  by  the  arrival,  a  little  before  Mr.  Van 
Berckel  entered,  of  an  authentic  account  that  the  definitive 
treaty  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States  was 
concluded." — Gordon,  History  of  the  American  Revolution,  iv. 
379. 

On  Saturday,  October  25,  Congress,  in  session,  resolved,  "  That  the  hon 
orable  P.  J.  Berckel,  be  received  as  minister  plenipotentiary  from  their  high 
mightinesses  the  states  general  of  the  United  Netherlands ;  and  that  agree 
ably  to  his  request,  he  be  admitted  to  a  public  audience  in  Congress.  That 
the  Congress  room  in  Princeton,  on  Thursday  next  [the  30th]  at  noon,  be 
appointed  as  the  time  and  place  for  such  audience.  That  the  superintend- 
ant  of  finance  'and  secretary  at  war,  or  either  of  them,  perform  on  this 
occasion,  the  duties  assigned  to  the  secretary  for  foreign  affairs,  in  the 
ceremonial  respecting  foreign  ministers  ;  and  that  they  inform  the  supreme 
executives  of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  his  excellency  the  commander 
in  chief,  the  honorable  the  minister  plenipotentiary  of  Prance,  and  such 
civil  and  military  gentlemen  as  are  in  or  near  Princeton,  of  the  public 
audience  to  be  given  to  the  honorable  the  minister  plenipotentiary  of  their 
high  mightinesses  the  states  general  of  the  United  Netherlands."  The  audi 
ence,  however,  did  not  take  place  until  the  following  day,  Friday,  October 
31,  as  stated  by  Dr.  Gordon. 


308  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1783 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  2. 

At  Rocky  Hill :  Issues  his  Farewell  Address  to  the 
Armies  of  the  United  States. 

In  this  admirable  address,  after  referring  to  the  unparalleled  perseverance 
of  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  through  almost  every  possible  suffering 
and  discouragement,  the  complete  attainment  of  the  object  for  which  they 
had  contended,  at  a  period  earlier  than  could  have  been  expected,  and  the 
enlarged  prospects  of  happiness  opened  by  the  confirmation  of  national  in 
dependence  and  sovereignty,  the  Commander-in-Chief  recommends  all  the 
troops  to  carry  into  civil  society  the  most  conciliating  dispositions,  proving 
themselves  not  less  virtuous  and  useful  as  citizens  than  they  had  been  per 
severing  and  victorious  as  soldiers,  and  to  maintain  the  strongest  attach 
ment  to  the  Union.  Then,  presenting  his  thanks  in  the  most  serious  and 
affectionate  manner  to  the  officers  and  men  for  the  assistance  he  had  received 
from  every  class,  he  adds,  "  And  being  now  to  conclude  these  his  last  pub 
lic  orders,  to  take  his  ultimate  leave  in  a  short  time  of  the  military  character, 
and  to  bid  a  final  adieu  to  the  armies  he  has  so  long  had  the  honor  to  com 
mand,  he  can  only  again  offer  in  their  behalf  his  recommendations  to  their 
grateful  country,  and  his  prayers  to  the  God  of  armies.  May  ample  justice 
be  done  them  here,  and  may  the  choicest  of  Heaven's  favors,  both  here  and 
hereafter,  attend  those,  who,  under  the  Divine  auspices,  have  secured  in 
numerable  blessings  for  others.  With  these  wishes  and  this  benediction, 
the  Commander-in-chief  is  about  to  retire  from  service.  The  curtain  of 
separation  will  soon  be  drawn,  and  the  military  scene  to  him  will  be  closed 
for  ever." 

TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  4. 

At  Rocky  Hill :  Issues  an  order  in  compliance  with  a 
resolution  of  Congress  of  October  29,  that  "  from  and  after 
the  15th  of  November  instant  all  the  troops  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  who  are  now  in  Pennsylvania,  or  the 
southward  thereof,  except  the  garrison  of  Fort  Pitt,  shall 
be  considered  as  discharged  from  the  service  of  the  United 
States :  and  all  officers  commanding  corps  or  detachments 
of  any  such  troops,  are  hereby  directed  to  grant  them  proper 
discharges  accordingly." 

THURSDAY,  NOVEMBER  6. 

At  Rocky  Hill :  "  In  consequence  of  the  information 
given  by  your  Excellency  to  Congress  some  time  past,  that 


1783]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  309 

you  had  received  orders  for  the  evacuation  of  New  York, 
and  of  the  verbal  message  you  were  pleased  to  send  by  Mr. 
Parker  to  me  respecting  the  period  of  embarkation,  I  am 
now  induced  to  request,  that  you  will  be  so  obliging  as  to 
inform  me  of  the  particular  time,  or  even  the  certain  day, 
if  possible,  when  this  event  will  happen." — Washington  to 
Sir  Guy  Carleton. 

The  following  description  of  the  horse  and  saddle  used  by  "Washington 
•when  at  Eocky  Hill  is  transcribed  from  a  MS.  note  dated  "  Prince-Town 
Sep'.  28th  1783,"  found  among  the  papers  of  Nathaniel  Lawrence,  Attorney- 
General  of  New  York,  1792-95:  "  Genl  Washingtons  horse  and  saddle. 
Old  crooked  saddle  with  a  short  deep  blue  saddle  cloth  flowered,  with  buif 
cloth  at  the  edge,  buckskin  seat,  the  cloth  not  below  the  skirts  of  the  saddle 
at  the  sides  ;  double  skirts,  crupper,  sursingle,  and  breast  strap  ;  small  rone 
horse,  not  five  ;  double  bitted  steal  bridle,  and  plated  stirrups.  The  Gen 
eral  usually  rode  from  Kockingham  to  Prince  Town,  which  is  five  miles,  in 
forty  minutes.  The  General  weighs  commonly  about  210  pounds." 

FRIDAY,  NOVEMBER  7. 

At  Rocky  Hill :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  officers  of  the  militia  of  the  county  of  Somerset,  New 
Jersey. 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  9. 

At  Rocky  Hill :  "  You  will  take  charge  of  the  "Waggons 
which  contain  my  baggage,  and  with  the  escort  proceed 
with  them  to  Virginia,  and  deliver  the  baggage  at  my  house 
ten  miles  below  Alexandria.  As  you  know  they  contain  all 
my  Papers,  which  are  of  immense  value  to  me,  I  am  sure  it 
is  unnecessary  to  request  your  particular  attention  to  them. 
.  .  .  The  bundle  which  contains  my  accounts  you  will  be 
carefull  of,  and  deliver  them  at  the  financier's  Office  with  the 
Letters  addressed  to  him,  that  is  Mr.  Morris." —  Washington 
to  Captain  Bazaled  Howe. 

"Philadelphia,  November  11,  1783. — In  the  evening  came  Genl.  Wash 
ington's  6  Baggage  Teams.  November  12. — His  Excel.  Baggage  Teams  set 
out  for  that  Excellent  Commander's  Residence  in  Virginia." — MS.  Journal 
of  Jacob  Hiltzheimer. 


310  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1783 

FRIDAY,  NOVEMBER  14. 

At  West  Point :  "  I  had  the  honor  yesterday  to  receive, 
by  Major  Beckwith,  your  Excellency's  favor  of  the  12th. 
To-day  I  will  see  the  governor  of  this  State,  and  concert 
with  him  the  necessary  arrangements  for  taking  possession 
of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the  other  posts  mentioned  in 
your  letter,  at  the  times  therein  specified." — Washington  to 
Sir  Guy  Carleton. 

As  a  step  preparatory  to  taking  possession  of  the  city  of  New  York, 
General  Washington  went  from  Rocky  Hill  to  West  Point,  where  the  part 
of  the  Continental  army  that  still  remained  in  service  was  stationed,  under 
the  command  of  General  Knox.  "  On  his  way  to  West  Point,  being  over 
taken  by  a  snow  storm,  Washington  was  detained  at  Orangetown  or  Tappan 
nearly  three  days.  During  this  delay  he  was  the  guest  of  Mrs.  De  Wint, 
at  the  house  occupied  by  him  as  head-quarters  in  1780." — Magazine  of 
American  History,  v.  109. 

SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  15. 

At  West  Point :  Receives  from  the  officers  of  that  part  ot 
the  army  remaining  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  an  answer 
to  his  Farewell  Address  to  the  Armies  of  the  United  States. 

SUNDAY,  NOVEMBER  16. 

At  West  Point :  Garrison  Orders. — "  The  Definitive  Treaty 
being  concluded  and  the  city  of  New  York  to  be  evacuated 
on  the  22d  inst,  His  Excellency  the  Commander  in  Chief 
proposes  to  celebrate  the  Peace  at  that  place,  on  Monday 
the  first  day  of  December  next,  by  a  display  of  Fire- Works 
and  Illuminations,  which  were  intended  to  have  been  ex 
hibited  at  this  post,  or  such  of  them  as  have  not  been 
injured  by  time,  and  can  be  removed." 

TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  18. 

.  At  West  Point :  "  I  have  at  length  the  pleasure  to  inform 
your  Excellency  and  Congress,  that  Sir  Guy  Carleton  has 
fixed  upon  the  time  at  which  he  proposes  to  evacuate  the 
city  of  New  York.  The  particulars  are  more  fully  ex- 


1783]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  311 

plained  in  his  letter  of  the  12th  instant,  a  copy  of  which, 
together  with  my  answer,  is  enclosed." — Washington  to  the 
President  of  Congress. 

"  I  propose  to  relinquish  the  posts  at  Kingsbridge,  and  as  far  as  McGowans 
Pass  inclusive  on  this  Island,  on  the  21st  instant ;  to  resign  the  possession 
of  Herrick's  and  Hampstead  with  all  to  the  eastward  on  Long  Island,  on 
the  same  day  ;  and,  if  possible  to  give  up  this  city  with  Brooklyn,  on 
the  day  following;  and  Paulus  Hook,  Dennis's,  and  Staten  Island,  as  soon 
after  as  may  be  practicable." — Carleton  to  Washington,  New  York,  Novem 
ber  12. 

FKIDAY,  NOVEMBER  21. 

At  "  Day's  Tavern,"  Harlem :  "  On  Friday,  the  21st  of 
November,  arrived  at  Haerlem,  at  Day's  tavern,*  nine  miles 
from  the  city  of  New  York,  his  Excellency  General  WASH 
INGTON,  and  his  Excellency  GEORGE  CLINTON  Esq.  Governor 
of  that  State.  They  were  attended  by  a  number  of  Gentle 
men  of  the  army,  Members  of  the  Senate  and  Assembly, 
and  other  officers  of  distinction.  The  Continental  troops 
are  stationed  at  or  near  M'Gowan's  pass,f  our  pickets  are 
advanced  to  the  Dove  Tavern,  five  miles  from  the  city." — 
Pennsylvania  Journal,  November  29,  1783. 

"  I  went  from  Peekskill  Tuesday  the  18  of  Novemr.  In  Company  with 
his  Excellency  Gover'r  Clinton,  Coll.  Benson,  and  Coll  Campbell,  Lodge 
that  night  with  Genl  Cortlandt  at  Croton  River,  proceeded  and  lodged 
Wednesday  night  [19th]  at  Edw.  Covenhov'n  [Tarrytown]  where  we  mett 
his  Excellency  Genl  Washington  &  his  aids,  the  next  Night  [20th]  Lodged 
with  Mrs.  Fred'k  V  Cortlandt  at  the  Yonkers  after  having  dined  with  Genl 
Lewis  Morris.  Fryday  morning  [21st]  wee  rode  In  Company  with  the 
Commander  In  Chief  as  far  as  the  widow  Day's  at  harlem,  where  we  held 
a  Council.  Saturday  [22d]  I  rode  down  to  Mr.  Stuyvesants  stay'd  there 
until  Tuesday  [25th].  Then  rode  Triumphant  into  the  Citty  with  the 
Commander." — Note- Book  of  Lieutenant-Governor  Van  Cortlandt,  "Maga 
zine  of  American  History,"  v.  134. 

*  Near  the  corner  of  the  present  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Street 
and  Eighth  Avenue. 

t  The  encampment,  of  about  eight  hundred  men,  was  on  the  present  line 
of  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Street  between  Fifth  and  Eighth  Avenues,  the 
northern  boundary  of  Central  Park. 


312  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1783 

SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER  22. 

At  "  Day's  Tavern,"  Harlem :  "  With  regard  to  the  in 
formation,  that  a  deliberate  combination  has  been  formed 
to  plunder  the  city  of  New  York,  I  have  to  observe,  that 
the  intelligence  appears  to  me  not  to  be  well-founded ;  at 
least,  no  intimations  of  the  kind  had  ever  before  come  to 
my  knowledge ;  and  I  can  assure  your  Excellency,  that  such 
arrangements  have  been  made,  as  will,  in  my  opinion,  not 
only  utterly  discountenance,  but  effectually  prevent,  any 
outrage  or  disorder." — Washington  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton. 

"  New  York,  Nov.  24,  1783.  The  Committee  appointed  to  conduct  the 
Order  of  receiving  their  Excellencies  Governor  CLINTON  and  General 
WASHINGTON,  BEG  Leave  to  inform  their  Fellow-Citizens,  that  the  Troops, 
under  the  command  of  Major-General  KNOX,  will  take  Possession  of  the 
City  at  the  Hour  agreed  on,  Tuesday  next ;  as  soon  as  this  may  be  performed, 
he  will  request  the  Citizens  who  may  be  assembled  on  Horseback,  at  the 
Bowling-Green,  the  lower  End  of  the  Broad- Way,  to  accompany  him  to 
meet  their  Excellencies  Governor  CLINTON  and  General  WASHINGTON,  at 
the  Bull's  Head,*  in  the  Bowery — the  Citizens  on  Foot  to  assemble  at  or 
near  the  Tea-water-Pump  f  at  Fresh- water.  ORDER  OF  PROCESSION. 
A  Party  of  Horse  will  precede  their  Excellencies  and  be  on  their  flanks — 
after  the  General  and  Governor,  will  follow  the  Lieutenant-Governor  and 
Members  of  the  Council  for  the  temporary  Government  of  the  Southern 
Parts  of  the  State — The  Gentlemen  on  Horse-back,  eight  in  Front — those 
on  Foot,  in  the  Rear  of  the  Horse,  in  like  Manner.  Their  Excellencies, 
after  passing  down  Queen-Street,  and  the  Line  of  Troops  up  the  Broad-way, 
will  a-light  at  CAPE'S  Tavern.  The  Committee  hope  to  see  their  Fellow- 
Citizens,  conduct  themselves  with  Decency  and  Decorum  on  this  joyful 
Occasion. ' ' — Contemporary  hand-bill. 

TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER  25. 

At  New  York :  "  New  York,  Nov.  26. — Yesterday  in  the 
morning  the  American  troops  marched  from  Haerlem,  to 

*  The  old  Bowery  Theatre,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Bowery,  just  below 
Canal  Street,  opened  in  1826,  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  Bull's  Head 
Tavern.  The  original  building,  destroyed  by  fire  in  1828,  was  rebuilt, 
again  destroyed  in  1838,  rebuilt,  destroyed  for  the  third  time  in  1845,  and 
again  rebuilt.  It  is  now  a  German  theatre,  called  "  The  Thalia." 

•j-  Near  the  present  junction  of  Chatham  and  Koosevelt  Streets. 


1783]         ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  313 

the  Bowery  lane. — They  remained  there  [near  the  present 
junction  of  Third  Avenue  and  the  Bowery]  until  about  one 
o'clock,  when  the  British  troops  left  the  post  in  the  Bowery, 
and  the  American  troops  marched  in  and  took  possession  of 
the  city. — After  the  troops  had  taken  possession  of  the  city, 
the  GENERAL  and  GOVERNOR  made  their  public  entry  in  the 
following  manner : — Their  excellencies  the  general  and  gov 
ernor  with  their  suites  on  horseback.  The  lieutenant  gov 
ernor,  and  the  members  of  the  council  for  the  temporary 
government  of  the  southern  district  four  a-breast. — Major- 
general  Knox,  and  the  officers  of  the  army,  eight  a-breast. — 
Citizens  on  horseback,  eight  a-breast. — The  speaker  of  the 
assembly,  and  citizens,  on  foot,  eight  a-breast. 

"  Their  excellencies  the  governor  and  commander  in  chief 
were  escorted  by  a  body  of  West  Chester  light  horse,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Delavan.  The  procession  pro 
ceeded  down  Queen  [now  Pearl]  Street,  and  through  the 
Broad-way  to  Cape's  Tavern.  The  governor  gave  a  public 
dinner  at  Fraunces's  tavern ;  at  which  the  commander  in 
chief,  and  other  general  officers  were  present." — Pennsyl 
vania  Packet,  December  2,  1783. 

Fraunce's  tavern,  at  which  Washington  took  up  his  quarters,  was  situated 
at  what  is  now  the  southeast  corner  of  Broad  and  Pearl  Streets.  Part  of 
the  original  building,  which  was  erected  by  Etienne  De  Lancey  in  1700,  is 
still  standing. 

WEDNESDAY,  NOVEMBER  26. 

At  New  York:  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  "  Citizens  of  New  York,  who  have  returned  from  exile, 
in  behalf  of  themselves  and  their  suffering  Brethren." 

FRIDAY,  NOVEMBER  28. 

At  New  York :  "  On  Friday  [November  28]  at  Cape's 
Tavern  the  Citizens,  who  have  lately  returned  from  exile, 
gave  an  elegant  Entertainment  to  his  Excellency  the  Gov 
ernor,  and  the  Council  for  governing  the  city ;  his  Excellency 
General  Washington,  and  the  officers  of  the  Army ;  about 


314  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1783 

three  hundred  Gentlemen  graced  the  feast." — The  Remem 
brancer,  xvii.  190. 

Cape's  tavern  was  on  the  west  side  of  Broadway  and  north  corner  of  the 
present  Thames  Street.  The  house,  at  the  time  of  its  erection  one  of  the 
largest  and  finest  structures  in  the  city,  was  taken  down  in  1792,  and  the 
City  Hotel  built  on  its  site.  The  Boreel  building  now  occupies  the  ground. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  L 

At  New  York :  "  On  Monday  [December  1]  a  very  ele 
gant  Entertainment  was  given  at  Cape's  Tavern,  by  his 
Excellency  the  Governor,  to  his  Excellency  the  Chevalier  de 
la  Luzerne,  Ambassador  from  his  most  Christian  Majesty 
to  the  United  States.  His  Excellency  General  Washington, 
the  principal  Officers  of  this  State  and  of  the  army,  and 
upwards  of  an  hundred  Gentlemen  were  present,  who  passed 
the  day  and  evening  with  great  conviviality." — The  Remem 
brancer,  xvii.  190. 

On  the  same  day  "Washington  received  and  answered  an  address  from  the 
freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  King's  County,  on  Nassau  or  Long  Island, 
State  of  New  York. 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBEK  2. 

At  New  York:  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  "  members  of  the  volunteer  associations,  and  other 
inhabitants  of  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland  lately  arrived  in  the 
City." 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBEE  3. 

At  New  York :  "  On  the  25th  of  November  the  British 
troops  left  this  city,  and  a  detachment  of  our  army  marched 
into  it.  The  civil  power  was  immediately  put  in  possession, 
and  I  have  the  happiness  to  assure  you,  that  the  most  perfect 
regularity  and  good  order  have  prevailed  ever  since." — 
Washington  to  the  President  of  Congress. 

"  New  York,  December  3. — The  splendid  display  of  Fire-works  last 
evening,  was  so  highly  satisfactory,  that  I  must  request  you  to  present  to 
Captain  Price,  under  whose  direction  they  were  prepared ;  and  to  the  Officers 


1783]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  315 

who  assisted  him,  my  thanks  for  the  great  skill  and  attention  shewn  in  the 
conduct  of  that  business." — Washington  to  General  Knox. 

THUKSDAY,  DECEMBER  4. 

At  New  York :  "  Last  Thursday  noon  [December  4]  the 
principal  officers  of  the  army  in  town  assembled  at  Fraunce's 
tavern  to  take  a  final  leave  of  their  illustrious,  gracious  and 
much  loved  commander,  General  Washington.  The  passions 
of  human  nature  were  never  more  tenderly  agitated  than  in 
this  interesting  and  distressful  scene.  His  excellency  having 
filled  a  glass  of  wine,  thus  addressed  his  brave  fellow-sol 
diers  : 

"'  With  an  heart  full  of  love  and  gratitude  I  now  take  leave 
of  you :  I  most  devoutly  wish  that  your  latter  days  may  be  as 
prosperous  and  happy  as  your  former  ones  have  been  glorious  and 
honorable.' 

"  These  words  produced  extreme  sensibility  on  both  sides ; 
they  were  answered  by  warm  expressions,  and  fervent  wishes, 
from  the  gentlemen  of  the  army,  whose  truly  pathetic  feel 
ings  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  convey  to  the  reader.  Soon 
after  this  scene  was  closed,  his  excellency  the  Governor,  the 
honorable  the  Council  and  citizens  of  the  first  distinction 
waited  on  the  general  and  in  terms  the  most  affectionate, 
took  their  leave. 

"  The  corps  of  light  infantry  was  drawn  up  in  a  line,  the 
commander  in  chief,  about  two  o'clock  passed  through  them 
on  his  way  to  Whitehall,  where  he  embarked  in  his  barge 
for  Powles  Hook  [Jersey  City].  He  is  attended  by  general 
le  baron  de  Steuben ;  proposes  to  make  a  short  stay  at  Phil 
adelphia  ;  will  thence  proceed  to  Annapolis,  where  he  will 
resign  his  Commission  as  General  of  the  American  armies, 
into  the  hands  of  the  Continental  Congress,*  from  whom  it 
was  derived,  immediately  after  which  his  excellency  will  set 

*  Congress  adjourned  at  Princeton,  November  4,  to  meet  at  Annapolis, 
Maryland,  on  the  26th.  A  quorum,  however,  was  not  present  until  Satur 
day,  the  13th  of  December,  when  nine  States  were  represented. 


316  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1783 

out  for  his  seat,  named  Mount  Vernon,  in  Virginia,  emu 
lating  the  example  of  his  model,  the  virtuous  Roman  gen 
eral,  who,  victorious,  left  the  tented  field,  covered  with 
honors,  and  withdrew  from  public  life,  otium  cum  dignitate." 
— Rivington's  New  York  Gazette,  December  6, 1783. 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  6. 

At  Trenton,  New  Jersey :  "  Trenton,  December  9, 1783. 
Last  Saturday  [December  6]  arrived  in  this  town  his  Excel 
lency  General  Washington,  on  his  way  to  his  seat  in  Vir 
ginia.  Immediately  after  his  arrival  he  was  waited  upon  by 
his  Excellency  the  Governor  [William  Livingston],  and  a 
Committee  of  the  Council  and  Assembly,  by  whom  he  was 
presented  with  an  Address." — Independent  Gazetteer,  De 
cember  20,  1783. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  8. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  Yesterday  [December  8]  at  noon  his 
excellency  GENERAL  WASHINGTON  arrived  here  [Philadel 
phia]  from  New  York.  His  Excellency  was  met  at  Frank 
fort,  by  his  excellency  the  President  of  this  State  [John 
Dickinson],  the  honorable  the  financier  [Robert  Morris], 
generals  St.  Clair  and  Hand,  the  Philadelphia,  troop  of 
horse,  and  a  number  of  the  citizens,  who  had  the  pleasure 
of  accompanying  the  General  into  the  city.  His  arrival 
was  announced  by  a  discharge  of  cannon,  the  bells  were 
rang,  and  the  people  testified  their  satisfaction,  at  once 
more  seeing  their  illustrious  chief,  by  repeated  acclama 
tions." — Pennsylvania  Packet,  December  9,  1783. 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  9. 

At  Philadelphia :  Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
one  from  the  merchants  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER  10. 

At  Philadelphia :   Receives  and  answers  an  address  from 


1783]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  317 

the  President  and  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Penn 
sylvania. 

"  Philadelphia,  Dec'r  10th. — After  seeing  the  backs  of  the  British  Forces 
turned  upon  us,  and  the  Executive  of  the  State  of  New  York  put  into 
peaceable  possession  of  their  Capital,  I  set  out  for  this  place — On  Monday 
next  I  expect  to  leave  the  City,  and  by  slow  travelling  arrive  at  Baltimore 
on  Wednesday,  where  I  will  spend  one  day  and  then  proceed  to  Annapolis 
and  get,  translated  into  a  private  citizen." — Washington  to  James  McHenry. 

THURSDAY,  DECEMBER  11. 

At  Philadelphia :  A  day  of  public  thanksgiving,  recom 
mended  by  Congress,  October  18. 

FRIDAY,  DECEMBER  12. 

At  Philadelphia :  "  On  Friday  the  12th  inst.  the  merchants 
of  this  city  [Philadelphia],  who  on  all  occasions  have  mani 
fested  the  sincerest  attachment  to  our  beloved  Commander 
in  Chief,  had  an  elegant  entertainment  prepared  for  him 
at  the  City  Tavern,  as  a  fresh  proof  of  their  respect  and 
attention.  On  this  truly  festive  and  happy  occasion,  toasts 
and  sentiments  were  given.  .  .  .  The  evening  was  closed 
with  a  ball,  at  which  were  present  a  very  numerous  and 
brilliant  company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen." — Independent 
Gazetteer,  December  30,  1783. 

On  the  same  day  Washington  received  and  answered  an  address  from  the 
officers  of  the  militia  of  the  City  and  Liberties  of  Philadelphia. 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  13. 

At  Philadelphia:  Receives  and  answers  addresses  from 
the  magistrates  of  the  city  and  county  of  Philadelphia; 
from  the  American  Philosophical  Society ;  from  the  Trustees 
and  Faculty  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania ; 
and  from  the  clergy,  gentlemen  of  the  law,  and  physicians 
of  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  15. 

Leaves  Philadelphia :  "  The  Illustrious  General  "Washing 
ton  after  Commanding  the  Army  of  the  united  States  above 


318  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.         [1783 

Eight  years,  has  just  given  the  Americans  Possession  of 
New  York  again,  after  the  British  had  it  in  their  hands 
more  than  Seven  years,  has  this  day  Set  out  from  Philad*. 
towards  his  Seat  in  Virginia  Escorted  a  little  way  out  of 
Town  by  Their  Excellency's  de  la  Luzerne,  Ambassador 
from  France  on  his  right,  John  Dickinson  President  of  this 
State  on  his  left,  and  the  City  Troop  of  Horse  in  the  rear 
The  Honourable  Rob*.  Morris  &  his  Lady  in  a  Carriage  a 
little  way  ahead.  Now  I  think  from  the  Present  appearance 
it  is  not  Likely  that  I  shall  Have  the  Honour  of  Seeing  that 
Great  and  Good  Man  again  do  therefore  most  Sincerely  Con 
gratulate  him  on  the  Noble  Resolution  he  has  fixed,  That  ia 
not  to  accept  of  any  Public  office  hereafter  but  to  spend  the 
Remainder  of  his  days  in  a  Private  life,  is  undoubtedly  the 
best  and  Surest  way  to  Preserve  the  Honours  he  so  justly 
acquired  during  the  Late  "War." — MS.  Journal  of  Jacob 
Hittzheimer,  of  Philadelphia. 

"  Wilmington  [Delaware],  December  16. — Last  evening  his  excellency 
general  Washington  arrived  in  this  borough,  on  his  way  to  his  seat  in  Vir 
ginia;  previous  to  his  arrival  he  was  met  by  the  governor  and  council,  the 
attorney-general,  and  other  civil  officers  of  the  State,  officers  of  the  army 
and  other  gentlemen,  who  escorted  him  into  town ;  on  his  arrival  he  was 
saluted  by  thirteen  discharges  of  cannon  ;  an  elegant  supper  was  provided, 
whilst  the  inhabitants  demonstrated  their  joy  by  making  large  bonfires  &c." 
— Pennsylvania  Packet,  December  23,  1783. 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  16. 

At  Wilmington :  Is  waited  on  by  the  burgesses  and  other 
officers  of  the  corporation,  accompanied  by  a  number  of 
respectable  inhabitants,  and  presented  with  an  address, 
which  he  answers. 

THURSDAY,  DECEMBER  18. 

At  Baltimore,  Maryland :  Is  entertained  at  a  public  din 
ner  given  to  him,  arid  receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  citizens. 


1783]          ITINERARF  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  319 

FRIDAY,  DECEMBER  19. 

At  Annapolis,  Maryland :  "  The  congress  of  the  United 
States  being  then  in  session,  at  the  city  of  Annapolis,  gen 
eral  Washington  arrived  there  with  suite,  on  Friday,  the 
19th  December,  1783,  for  the  purpose  of  resigning  his  com 
mission  into  their  hands.  He  was  met  a  few  miles  from 
the  city,  by  generals  Gates  and  Smallwood,  accompanied 
by  several  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  place,  who 
escorted  him  to  Mr.  Mann's  hotel,  where  apartments  were 
prepared  for  his  reception.  His  arrival  was  announced  by 
the  discharge  of  cannon.  After  receiving  visits  from  many 
of  the  citizens,  he  waited  on  the  president  of  congress." — 
Annals  of  Annapolis. 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  20. 

At  Annapolis :  Dines  with  the  President  of  Congress,  in 
company  with  the  members  of  that  body  and  the  principal 
military  and  civil  officers  of  the  State. 

"  In  Congress,  Annapolis,  December  20. — A  letter,  of  this  day,  from  the 
commander  in  chief  was  read,  informing  Congress  of  his  arrival  in  this  city, 
with  the  intention  of  asking  leave  to  resign  the  commission  he  has  the 
honor  of  holding  in  their  service,  and  desiring  to  know  their  pleasure  in 
what  manner  it  will  be  most  proper  to  offer  his  resignation  ;  whether  in 
writing  or  at  an  audience ;  Whereupon,  Resolved,  That  his  excellency  the 
commander  in  chief  be  admitted  to  a  public  audience  on  Tuesday  next,  at 
twelve  o'clock.  Resolved,  That  a  public  entertainment  be  given  to  the 
commander  in  chief  on  Monday  next." — Journal  of  Congress. 
« 

SUNDAY,  DECEMBER  21. 

At  Annapolis :  "  On  Sunday  morning,  he  returned  the 
visits  of  the  citizens  and  others  who  had  waited  on  him." — 
Annals  of  Annapolis. 

MONDAY,  DECEMBER  22. 

At  Annapolis :  "  On  Monday,  congress  gave  general 
Washington  a  public  dinner,  at  the  ball-room,  where  up 
wards  of  two  hundred  persons  of  distinction  are  said  to 


320  ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.          [1783 

have  been  present ;  and  where  every  thing  was  provided  by 
Mr.  Mann,  in  the  most  elegant  and  profuse  style.  After 
dinner  many  toasts  were  drunk,  accompanied  by  the  dis 
charge  of  cannon.  At  night  the  state-house  was  illumi 
nated,  where  a  ball  was  given  by  the  general  assembly,  at 
which  a  very  numerous  and  brilliant  company  of  ladies  was 
present.  On  this  occasion  general  Washington  opened  the 
ball  with  Mrs.  James  Maccubbin,  of  this  city,  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  women  of  her  day.  An  address  was  made 
to  general  Washington,  on  this  occasion,  by  the  corporate 
authorities  of  the  city." — Annals  of  Annapolis. 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER  23. 

At  Annapolis  :  "  Congress  assembled.  Present  Massachu 
setts,  Rhode-Island,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland, 
Virginia,  North-Carolina;  and  from  the  state  of  New- 
Hampshire,  Mr.  Foster,  and  from  the  state  of  South-Caro 
lina,  Mr.  Read. 

"  According  to  order,  his  excellency  the  commander  in 
chief  was  admitted  to  a  public  audience,  and  being  seated, 
the  president  [Thomas  Mifflin],  after  a  pause,  informed  him, 
that  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  were  prepared 
to  receive  his  communications;  Whereupon,  he  arose  and 
addressed  as  follows : 

"  '  MB.  PRESIDENT  :  The  great  events  on  which  my  resig 
nation  depended,  having  at  length  taken  place,  I  have  now 
the  honor  of  offering  my  sincere  congratulations  to  Con 
gress,  and  of  presenting  myself  before  them,  to  surrender 
into  their  hands  the  trust  committed  to  me,  and  to  claim  the 
indulgence  of  retiring  from  the  service  of  my  country. 

"  '  Happy  in  the  confirmation  of  our  independence  and 
sovereignty,  and  pleased  with  the  opportunity  afforded  the 
United  States,  of  becoming  a  respectable  nation,  I  resign 
with  satisfaction  the  appointment  I  accepted  with  diffidence 
— a  diffidence  in  my  abilities  to  accomplish  so  arduous  a 
task ;  which  however  was  superseded  by  a  confidence  in  the 


1783]          ITINERARY  OF  GENERAL    WASHINGTON.  321 

rectitude  of  our  cause,  the  support  of  the  supreme  power  of 
the  union,  and  the  patronage  of  heaven. 

"  '  The  successful  termination  of  the  war  has  verified  the 
most  sanguine  expectations ;  and  my  gratitude  for  the  inter 
position  of  Providence,  and  the  assistance  I  have  received 
from  my  countrymen,  increases  with  every  review  of  the 
momentous  contest. 

"  '  While  I  repeat  my  obligations  to  the  army  in  general, 
I  should  do  injustice  to  my  own  feelings  not  to  acknowledge, 
in  this  place,  the  peculiar  services  and  distinguished  merits 
of  the  gentlemen  who  have  been  attached  to  my  person 
during  the  war.  It  was  impossible  the  choice  of  confiden 
tial  officers  to  compose  my  family  should  have  been  more 
fortunate.  Permit  me,  sir,  to  recommend  in  particular, 
those  who  have  continued  in  the  service  to  the  present 
moment,  as  worthy  of  the  favourable  notice  and  patronage 
of  Congress. 

"  '  I  consider  it  an  indispensable  duty  to  close  this  last  act 
of  my  official  life  by  commending  the  interests  of  our  dearest 
country  to  the  protection  of  Almighty  God,  and  those  who 
have  the  superintendance  of  them  to  his  holy  keeping. 

" '  Having  now  finished  the  work  assigned  me,  I  retire 
from  the  great  theatre  of  action,  and  bidding  an  affectionate 
farewell  to  the  august  body,  under  whose  orders  I  have  so 
long  acted,  I  here  offer  my  commission,  and  take  my  leave 
of  all  the  employments  of  public  life.' " — Journal  of  Con 
gress. 

Upon  concluding  the  address,  the  Commander-in-Chief  delivered  his 
commission  to  the  President  of  Congress,  who,  in  receiving  it,  made  an 
appropriate  reply.  The  ceremony  ended — a  remarkable  scene  had  been 
witnessed ;  a  memorable  action  performed — and  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  a 
private  citizen,  withdrew  from  the  room.  On  the  following  morning  ha 
set  out  for  Mount  Vernon,  his  eight  years  and  a  half  of  service  completed, — 
a  service  which,  for  unwearied  devotion,  unselfish  patriotism,  and  unwonted 
forbearance,  stands  unequalled  in  the  annals  of  this  world's  history  1 

22 


INDEX. 


Adams,  Captain,  commands  the  "  War 
ren,"  21 

Albany,  freedom  of,  presented  to  Wash 
ington,  266;  Washington  receives  and 
answers  an  address  from  the  Mayor 
of,  266 

Alden,  Col.  Ichabod,  killed  at  Cherry 
Valley,  144 

Allen,  Ethan,  account  of  his  attack  on 
Montreal,  his  capture,  20 

Alliance,  frigate,  arrival  of,  at  Boston, 
187 

Alliance  with  France,  celebration  of 
conclusion  of  treaty  of,  128;  anni 
versary  of,  celebrated,  151,  152,  287 

American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences, 
Washington  elected  a  member  of  the, 
213 

American  Philosophical  Society,  Wash 
ington  elected  a  member  of  the,  174; 
Washington  receives  and  answers  ad 
dresses  from  the,  253,  317 

Andr6,  Major  John,  capture,  trial,  and 
death  of,  192,  193 

Annapolit,  reception  to  Washington  at, 
249  ;  public  dinner  given  to  Wash 
ington  at,  319;  Washington  resigns 
his  commission  at,  320,  321 

Appleby,  Joseph,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  226 

Appleton,  Rev.  Nathaniel,  22 

Arbuthnot,  Admiral,  arrives  at  New 
York  with  troops,  165 

Armstrong,  Major  John,  author  of  the 
"Newburgh  Addresses,"  290 

Army,  main  Continental,  strength  of,  9, 
12,  28,  38,  51,  63,  70,  71,  73,  82,  94, 
101,  129,  227,  247;  condition  of,  in 
May,  1781,  217;  Washington  con 
gratulates  the,  on  the  successes  in  S. 
Carolina,  222 ;  position  of,  before 
Yorktown,  241,  242;  discontent  in 
the,  279,  289;  the  last  cantonment 
of  the,  281 ;  gradual  falling  away  of 
the,  299 ;  discharged  from  service, 
306,  308 

Arnold,  Col.  Benedict  (afterward  Gen 
eral),  commands  the  detachment  to 
penetrate  into  Canada,  15,  16; 


wounded  in  the  assault  on  Quebec,  16  ; 
attacked  on  Lake  Champlain  by  Sir 
Guy  Carleton,  54 ;  meets  Washington 
at  King's  Ferry,  189;  treason  of,  191  ; 
plan  for  capture  of,  195,  196  ;  expedi 
tion  planned  to  capture,  in  Virginia, 
207 

Arnold,  Col.  Jacob,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  Morristown,  67 

Asgill,  Capt.  Charles,  is  released,  282, 
283 

Assemblies  (dancing),  held  in  Morris- 
town,  1780,  174 

Associations,  Washington  receives  and 
answers  an  address  from  the  members 
of  volunteer,  314 

Augusta,  frigate,  British,  blown  up  on 
the  Delaware,  101 

Bache,  Mrs.  Sarah,  149,  204 

Baltimore,  reception  given  to  Washing 
ton  at,  238,  239  ;  Washington  receive? 
and  answers  an  address  from  the 
citizens  of,  318;  public  dinner  given 
to  Washington  at,  318 

Barclay,  Thomas,  note  regarding,  60 ; 
house  of,  61 

Barnes,  Major  John,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  64 

Barras,  Count  de,  arrives  at  Newport, 
218;  joins  Count  de  Grasse,  240 

Beers,  Isaac,  house  of,  7 

Bennington,  account  of  the  victory  at, 
84 

Berkeley  house,  60 

Berrien,  Judge,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  at  Rocky  Hill, 
304 

Bethlehem,  Pa.,  during  the  Revolution, 
270 

Billings,  Capt.,  killed  in  the  mutiny  at 
Morristown,  203 

Birdsall,  Daniel,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  at  Peekskill, 
185 

Blanchard,  Claude,  opinion  of  Washing 
ton  by,  209  ;  dines  with  Washington 
at  Peekskill,  224 

Boston,  assault  on,  strongly  urged  by 

323 


324 


INDEX. 


Washington,  28,  29 ;  evacuation  of, 
by  the  British,  32 ;  small-pox  in,  33 ; 
Washington  receives  and  answers  an 
address  from  the  Selectmen  of,  36 

Boudinot,  Elias,  address  to  Washington, 
as  President  of  Congress,  304 

Bowdoin,  James,  Washington  dines  with, 
32 

Bowen,  Jabez,  Washington  is  enter 
tained  while  at  Providence  at  house 
of,  212 

Brandywine  battle  of,  88 

Brinckerhoff,  Col.  John,  Washington's 
head-quarters  at  Fishkill,  at  house  of, 
141 

Bristol,  R.  /.,  an  account  of  Washing 
ton's  passing  through,  210 

Brodhead,  Col.  Daniel,  attacks  the 
Mingo  and  Muney  tribes  of  Indians, 
158 

Broglie,  Prince  de,  description  of  the 
army  at  Verplanck's  Point  by,  277 

Broughton,  Nicholas,  first  naval  captain 
commissioned  by  Washington,  21 

Buck  Tavern,  location  of,  90 

Burgoyne,  Genl.,  and  his  whole  army 
surrender,  99 ;  anniversary  of  the 
surrender  of,  celebrated  at  Fredericks- 
burg  by  the  army,  143 

Cadwalader,  General  John,  at  Cross- 
wicks,  65 

Caldwell,  Mrs.  James,  shot  by  a  British 
soldier,  179 

Canrida,  expedition  planned  to  pene 
trate  into,  1 5  ;  regiments  to  be  raised 
for  the  expedition  to,  26 ;  account  of 
the  invasion  of,  44;  irruption  into, 
abandoned,  117;  invasion  of,  aban 
doned,  148 

Cape's  Tavern,  situation  of,  314 

Cards,  see  Gaming 

Carleton,  Sir  Guy,  attacks  General 
Arnold  on  Lake  Champlain,  54;  in 
forms  Washington  of  his  arrival  in 
New  York,  262  ;  in  conference  with 
Washington  at  Dobbs'  Ferry,  295 

Caswell,  Col.  Richard,  35 

Champe,  John,  sent  to  capture  Arnold, 
196 

Charleston,  the  surrender  of,  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  179 ;  evacuation  of, 
by  the  British,  286 

Chastellux,  Marquis  de,  visits  Washing 
ton  at  Preakness,  197  ;  his  impression 
of  Washington,  197,  198;  entertained 
by  Washington  at  dinner,  198  ;  pen- 
portrait  of  Washington  by,  198,  199  ; 
entertained  by  Washington  at  New 
Windsor,  201  ;  bids  a  final  farewell  to 
Washington  at  Newburgh,  283 ;  de 


scription  of  head-quarters  at  New- 
burgh  by,  283 

Chattel-ton's  Hill,  54 

Chesapeake,  the,  blockaded  by  Admiral 
Arbuthnot,  214 

Chew,  Benjamin,  Washington's  head 
quarters  in  Philadelphia  at  house  of, 
251 

Church,  Dr.  Benjamin,  8 ;  treachery  of, 
17 

Cincinnati,  Society  of  the,  organized, 
300 ;  Washington  elected  president- 
general  of  the,  299 

Cincinnatus  of  America,  Washington 
alluded  to  as  the,  148 

Circular  Letter  from  Washington  to  the 
Governors  of  the  several  States,  298 

City  Tavern,  Phila.,  description  and 
location  of,  5 ;  farewell  supper  given 
to  General  Washington  at,  5  ;  Wash 
ington  entertained  at  dinner  at  the, 
254;  merchants  of  Philadelphia  give 
an  entertainment  for  Washington  at, 
317 

Clinton,  General  Sir  Henry,  lands  on 
Staten  Island,  46 ;  capture  of,  de- 
aired  by  Washington,  121 ;  Charles 
ton  surrenders  to,  179  ;  failure  of  an 
attempt  to  capture,  202 

Clinton,  General  James,  joins  General 
Sullivan  against  the  Indians,  158 

Cobble  Hill,  fortifications  at,  21 ;  can 
nonade  commenced  at  American  works 
on,  30 

Coit,  Captain,  commands  the  "Harri 
son,"  21 

College  of  New  Jersey,  Washington  at 
tends  the  annual  commencement  of, 
305 ;  makes  a  contribution  to  the, 
305 

Conciliatory  Bills  of  Lord  North,  126, 
127 

Concorde,  frigate,  arrives  at  Newport 
from  Count  de  Grasse,  231 

Congress,  committees  of,  in  camp,  19, 
52, 118,  178,  203;  Washington  attends, 
39,  147,  148,  150,  252,  304;  Washing 
ton  receives  and  answers  an  address 
from  the  President  of,  251,  252,  304 ; 
proclamation  of,  for  a  cessation  of 
hostilities,  294 

•Constitution  Island,  55,  56 

Continental  Army,  first  raised,  25 

Conway  Cabal,  earliest  public  record 
bearing  on  the  subject  of  the,  104 

Cooke,  Governor  Nicholas,  20,  36 

Cornwallis,  Lord,  lands  on  Staten  Island, 
46 ;  sails  from  Philadelphia  to  Eng 
land,  December  19,  1777,  118;  re 
turns  to  America  June  6,  1778,  118; 
returns  from  a  visit  to  England,  164 ; 


INDEX. 


325 


expedition  determined  upon  to  cap 
ture,  and  his  army,  232 

Council  of  War,  at  Cambridge.  10,  13, 
17,  19,  26,  28,  29;  at  Roxbury,  32;  at 
Brooklyn,  48  ;  at  New  York,  49,  50  ;  at 
Kingsbridge,  53  ;  at  White  Plains,  55  ; 
at  Trenton,  65 ;  at  Nesbaminy  Camp, 
84;  at  Pennybacker's  Mills,  94;  at 
Whitpain,  101;  at  AVhitemarsh,  106; 
at  Valley  Forge,  128,  131;  at  Hope- 
well,  N.  J.,  133;  at  West  Point,  203 

Cowpens,  battle  of,  206 

Crown  Point,  General  Sullivan  arrives 
at,  43 

Culper,  a  spy  employed  by  Washington, 
160 

Custis,  John  Parke,  arrives  with  Mrs. 
Washington  at  Cambridge,  22 ;  death 
of,  247 

Danlury,  the  British  set  fire  to  stores 
and  dwellings  in,  72 

Dauphin  of  France,  birth  of,  celebrated 
at  West  Point,  264,  205 ;  at  Philadel 
phia,  268 

Day's  Tavern,  Harlem,  Washington's 
head-quarters  at,  311,  312 

Deane,  Silas,  Washington  at  house 
of,  8 

Deane,  Simeon,  bearer  of  despatches 
containing  the  treaties  between  France 
and  the  United  States,  127 

Declaration  of  Independence  proclaimed 
before  the  army,  43  ;  anniversary  of, 
celebrated  by  the  army  at  New  Bruns 
wick,  136;  at  New  Windsor,  160;  at 
West  Point,  267 

Delaware,  the  frigate,  captured  by  the 
British,  95 

D'Estaing,  Count,  arrival  of  the  fleet  of, 
138;  opinion  given  by,  of  Washing 
ton,  139 

Destouches,  Chevalier,  sails  from  New 
port  for  the  Chesapeake,  213;  returns 
to  Newport  after  an  engagement  with 
Admiral  Arbuthnot,  214 

De  Wint  House,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  Tappan,  186 

Dey,  Col.  Theunis,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  Preakness,  at  house  of,  181, 
194 

Digby,  Admiral,  Washington  authorizes 
an  attempt  to  capture,  259 

Donop,  Count,  wounded  and  taken  pris 
oner,  100 

Dorchester  Heiyhls,  Americans  take  pos 
session  of,  31 

Douglas  House,  council  of  war  held  at 
the,  65 

Doylettown,  Pa.,  location  and  description 
of,  133 


Drinker,  Mrs.  Henry,  record  of  a  visit 

to  Valley  Forge,  April  6,  1778,  125 
Dumas,  Count,  quoted,  204;  account  of 

Washington's  reception  at  Providence 

by,  211 
Dunlap,   William,    Washington    sits   to, 

for  his  portrait,  306 
Dunmore,  Lord,  cannonades  the  town  of 

Norfolk,  28  :  arrives  in  New  York,  47 
Du  Ponceau,  Peter  S.,  impressions    of, 

upon  first  seeing  Washington,  120 
Dutch    Reformed    Church    at    Raritan, 

Washington  receives  and  answers  an 

address  from  the,  158 

Elizabethtown,  the  British  destroy  prop 
erty  at,  173 

Ellison,  William,  house  of,  Washington's 
head-quarters  at  New  Windsor,  160, 
200 

Emlen,  George,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  at  Whitemarsb, 
103 

Enlistment  of  deserters  and  prisoners, 
Washington's  disapproval  of,  261 

Enlistments,  the  duration  of  the  war 
attributed  to  temporary,  195 

Enos,  Col.  Roger,  16 

Erving,  Mr.,  Washington  dines  at  the 
house  of,  32 

Eutaw  Springs,  battle  of,  242 

Fairfield,  the  British  destroy,  162 

Falmouth,  Maine,  account  of  the  de 
struction  of,  19 

Farewell  Address,  Washington's,  to  the 
armies  of  the  United  States,  308 

"  Father  of  his  Country,"  earliest  ap 
plication  of  the  epithet,  applied  to 
Washington,  211 

Ferguson,  Major  Patrick,  killed,  197 

Fersen,  Count  de,  description  of  Wash 
ington  by,  190 

First  Troop,  Philadelphia  City  Cavalry, 
escorts  Washington,  6,  7,  258,  316,  318 ; 
letter  from  Washington  to,  67,  68 

Flag,  Union,  displayed  for  the  first  time, 
25 

Flagg,  Major,  killed  by  Tories,  218 

Ford,  Col.  Jacob,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of  the  widow  of, 
169 

Fort  Clinton,  taken  by  Sir  Henry  Clin 
ton,  103  ;  abandoned  by  order  of  Genl. 
Howe,  103 

Fort  Lee,  Washington  present  at  the 
laying  out  of,  45;  abandoned  by  the 
Americans,  57 

Fort  Mercer,  attack  on,  by  the  Hessians, 
100;  evacuated  by  the  Americans, 
105 


326 


INDEX. 


Fort  Mifflin,  evacuated  by  the  Ameri 
cans,  105 

Fort  Montgomery,  taken  by  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  103 ;  abandoned  by  order  of 
Genl.  Howe,  103 

Fort  Moultrie,  46 

Fort  Sullivan,  the  British  attack,  46 

Fort  Washington,  surrender  of,  56,  57 

France,  treaty  with,  celebration  of  the 
conclusion  of  the,  128;  anniversary 
of,  celebrated,  151,  152,  287 

France  donates  money  to  the  United 
States,  221,  222 

Franklin,  Benjamin,  19 

Fraunce's  Tavern,  Washington's  quarters 
in  New  York  at,  313;  Governor  Clin 
ton  gives  a  public  dinner  at,  313 ; 
Washington  takes  leave  of  the  officers 
of  the  army  at,  315 

French  army  leaves  Newport,  225 ; 
joins  the  American  army  at  Phillips- 
burg,  226;  at  Verplanck's  Point,  273; 
sails  from  Boston,  284 

French  fleet,  arrival  of  Count  d'Estaing 
with  the,  138 

Friends,  committee  of,  from  Phila.,  pre 
sent  Washington  with  the  Society's 
"  testimony,"  against  war,  96  ;  Wash 
ington's  objections  to  the  general 
meetings  of  the,  122 

Frog's  Point,  British  land  at,  52,  53 

Furloughs,  resolution  of  Congress  in 
reference  to,  297 

Gage,  Genl.  Thomas,  returns  to  Eng 
land,  18 

Gaming,  Washington  issues  orders 
against  all  kinds  of,  29,  52,  72,  73 

Gates,  Genl.  Horatio,  36 ;  supersedes 
Genl.  Sullivan,  44;  appointed  to  com 
mand  the  army  in  the  northern  de 
partment,  81;  appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  southern  army,  196; 
defeated  by  Cornwallis  at  Cainden, 
S.  C.,  and  removed  from  command, 
196 ;  rejoins  the  army  at  Verplanck's 
Point,  279 

Ge"rard,  M.,  visits  the  camp  at  Middle- 
brook,  155;  his  opinion  of  Washing 
ton,  157 

Germantown,  battle  of,  95 ;  Congress 
thanks  the  officers  and  men  who  were 
at  the,  97 

Gill,  Moses,  8 

Gleason,  Capt.,  killed  at  battle  of  Harlem 
Heights,  50 

Goddard,  William,  publisher  of  the 
"  Queries,  Political  and  Military,"  164 

Grasse,  Count  de,  arrival  of,  in  Chesa 
peake  Bay,  237  ;  Washington  visits, 
240,  246 


Gray's  Hill,  Washington  passes  a  night 
at  a  farm-house  near,  86 

Greene,  Col.  Christopher,  murdered  by 
Tories,  218 

Greene,  Genl.  Nathaniel,  opinion  by,  of 
Washington,  11;  illness  of,  47;  ap 
pointed  quartermaster-general,  114 ; 
Washington  writes  to  President  of 
Congress  in  reference  to,  139,  140 ; 
appointed  to  take  command  of  the 
southern  army  in  place  of  Genl.  Gates, 
196 

Griffin,  Samuel,  7 

Guilford  Court-House,  N.  C.,  battle  of, 
214 

Gulf  Mill,  location  of,  109 

Hackensack,  American  army  encamps 
at,  56 

Hale,  Capt.  Nathan,  capture  and  execu 
tion  of,  52 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  appointed  aide-de 
camp  to  Washington,  69 

Harlem  Heights,  battle  of,  50 

Harris,  John,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  at  Newtown,  64 

Harrison,  Benjamin,  19 

Hartford,  Conn.,  imposing  ceremonies 
on  Washington's  appearance  at,  189, 
190 

Hartley,  David,  286 

Harvard  College,  confers  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Laws  upon  Washington,  36 

Hasbrouck  House,  head-quarters  of 
Washington  at  Newburgh,  260,  281, 
283 

Heath,  Genl.  William,  Washington 
thanks  for  his  services,  259 

Hessians,  surprise  and  surrender  of  the, 
64 

Hickey,  Thomas,  execution  of,  41 

Hill,  Henry,  Washington  makes  his 
head-quarters  at  country-seat  of,  81 

Hobart,  John  Sloss,  6 

Hopkins,  Com.,  meets  Genl.  Washing 
ton,  36 

Hopper  House,  Bergen  Co.,  N.  J.,  Wash 
ington's  head-quarters  at,  187-189 

Hostilities,  cessation  of,  proclaimed,  294, 
295 

Howe,  Admiral  Lord,  arrives  at  New 
York,  44 

Howe,  Genl.  Robert,  quells  the  mutiny 
of  the  New  Jersey  troops,  205 

Howe,  Genl.  Sir  William,  succeeds  Genl. 
Gage  at  Boston,  18  ;  sails  for  Halifax, 
34 ;  lands  on  Staten  Island,  34,  43 ; 
lands  at  Turkey  Point  and  issues  his 
"  Declaration,"  86  ;  the  Declaration  or', 
explained,  87 ;  superseded  in  com 
mand  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  131 


INDEX. 


327 


Hudson  River,  Washington's  wishes  re 
garding  the  defence  of  the,  116 
Hughes,  Lieut.-Col.  Isaac,  109 
Huntington,  Jedediah,  Washington  dines 
at  house  of,  36 

Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  expedition 

against,  158 
Irvine,  Genl.  James,  wounded  and  made 

prisoner,  107 

Jay,  John,  Washington  while  at  Fish- 
kiil  visits,  144 ;  appointed  minister 
plenipotentiary  to  Spain,  167 

Jerseys,  retreat  through  the,  58,  59 ; 
Thomas  Paine's  account  of,  in  the 
"  American  Crisis,"  59 

Keith,  William,  Washington  makes  his 
head-quarters  at  house  of,  61,  62,  63 

King's  County,  N.  Y.,  Washington  re 
ceives  and  answers  an  address  from 
inhabitants  of,  314 

King's  Mountain,  battle  of,  197 

Kingston,  N.  Y.,  burned  by  the  British, 
103 

Knowlton,  Col.  Thomas,  killed  at  battle 
of  Harlem  Heights,  50 

Knox,  Henry  (afterward  General),  notice 
of  the  military  career  of,  9,  10 ;  ar 
rives  at  camp  with  artillery  from 
Ticonderoga,  26;  services  of,  men 
tioned,  26,  27  ;  Washington  at  quarters 
of,  at  Pluckamin,  151 ;  entertainment 
at  quarters  of,  152 

Knox,  Hugh,  remarkable  prophecy  of, 
concerning  Washington,  70 ;  notice 
of,  70 

Knyphausen,  General,  failure  of  an 
attempt  to  capture,  202 

Lafayette,  Marquis  de,  meets  Washing 
ton  for  the  first  time,  in  Philadelphia, 
80  ;  joins  the  army  as  major-general, 
84;  sails  for  France,  148;  returns  to 
America,  178 ;  presents  each  officer  of 
the  Light  Infantry  at  Steenrapie  with  a 
sword,  186;  ordered  to  Va.  with  a  de 
tachment  of  troops,  206,  207  ;  ordered 
to  join  the  southern  army,  215;  Abbe 
Robin's  opinion  of,  236,  237;  returns 
to  France,  248 

Lake  George,  302 

Lamb's  Dam,  cannonade  commenced  at 
American  works  at,  30 

Laurens,  Henry,  Washington  resides, 
while  at  Philadelphia,  in  1779,  at 
house  of,  151 

Lauzun,  Duke  de,  Washington  reviews 
the  Legion  of,  at  Lebanon,  208;  the 


French  troops  under,  sail  from  the 
Capes  of  Delaware,  297 

Lechmere's  Point,  works  built  on,  22,  23, 
29 ;  the  British  cannonade  works  on, 
30 

Lee,  Genl.  Charles,  goes  with  Washing 
ton  to  Cambridge,  5 ;  mentioned,  7,  9, 
10,  12;  at  Rhode  Island,  23;  goes  to 
New  York,  23 ;  commands  the  south 
ern  military  department,  24;  joins 
the  main  army,  53 ;  made  prisoner, 
62 ;  exchange  of,  124 ;  suspended  from 
the  army,  135;  author  of  the  "  Queries, 
Political  and  Military,"  164 

Leonard,  Rev.  Abiel,  22,  32 

Leslie,  Col.  William,  notice  of  the  fune 
ral  of,  66 

Levering 's  Ford,  location  of,  89 

Liberty  Pole  Tavern,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  Teaneck,  N.  J.,  186 

Lincoln,  Genl.  Benjamin,  elected  Secre 
tary  of  War,  206  ;  in  camp  at  Ver- 
planck's  Point,  280 

Livingston,  Robert  R.,  elected  Secretary 
for  Foreign  Affairs,  206 

Livingston,  Van  Brugh,  house,  confer 
ence  between  Washington  and  Sir  Guy 
Carleton  at,  295 

Long  Island,  British  land  on,  47 ;  battle 
of,  48,  49 

Luzerne,  Chevalier  de  la,  visits  Wash 
ington  at  West  Point,  165 ;  account  of, 
166;  arrives  at  camp  at  Morristown, 
175;  gives  a  description  to  M.  de 
Vergennes  of  his  visit  to  camp,  176 ; 
Washington  passes  the  night  with,  at 
Fishkill,  191  ;  gives  a  dinner  to  Wash 
ington  and  others  in  Philadelphia, 
237 

Lynch,  Thomas,  19 

McCurdy,  John,  Washington  spends  the 

night  at  house  of,  36 
McDougall,    Genl.    Alexander,    elected 

Secretary  of  Marine,  206 
Mcllvain,  John,  Washington  stays  over 

night  at  house  of,  89 
Magaw,    Col.    Robert,   surrenders   Fort 

Washington,  56 

Mai  in,     Joseph,    Washington's     head 
quarters  at  house  of,  90 
Manly,    Capt.     John,     commands     the 

"  Lee,"    21 ;    captures     a    store-ship 

bound  for  Boston,  22 
Marailles,  Don  Juan,  visits  the  camp  at 

Middlebrook,  155;  arrives  at  camp  at 

Morristown,  175 ;   death  and   funeral 

of,  176,  177 
Marbois,  M.,  visits  Washington  at  West 

Point,  165;  account  of,  166 
Markoe,  Capt.  Abram,  7 


328 


INDEX. 


Martin,  Josiah,  Governor  of  North  Car 
olina,  35 

Martindale,  Captain,  commands  the 
"Washington,"  21;  captured  and 
carried  to  England,  21 

Maryland,  ratifies  the  "  Articles  of  Con- 

•    federation,"  206 

Masonic  celebrations,  Washington  par 
ticipates  in  the  festival  of  St.  John 
the  Evangelist  at  Philadelphia,  147 ; 
at  the  "  Robinson  House,"  160 ;  at 
Morristown,  170 ;  at  Poughkeepsie, 
284 

Massachusetts,  Washington  receives  and 
answers  an  address  from  the  General 
Assembly  of,  35,  303 

Matson's  Ford,  Lafayette's  force  retreats 
over  the  Schuylkill  at,  130 

Matthews,  David,  41 

Mawhood,  Col.,  66 

Medal  of  gold,  struck  in  commemoration 
of  the  siege  and  acquisition  of  Boston, 
presented  to  Washington,  37,  38 

Mifflin,  Col.  Thomas  (afterward  Gen 
eral),  6,  7  ;  Washington,  Gates,  Adams, 
and  others  dine  with,  at  Cambridge, 
27;  at  Bordentown,  N.  J.,  65 

Miller  House,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  White  Plains,  54 

Money,  paper,  depreciation  of,  154,  155, 
156 

Monmouth  Court-Houte,  battle  of,  135 

Montgomery,  Richard  (afterward  Gen 
eral),  6 ;  takes  the  command  of  Genl. 
Schuyler's  troops,  15;  takes  possession 
of  Montreal,  16;  killed  at  the  assault 
on  Quebec,  16;  notice  received  of 
death  of,  26 

Montreal,  account  of  Ethan  Allen's  at 
tack  on,  20 

Moore  Hall,  Committee  of  Congress  meet 
at,  118 

Moore,  John,  Washington  at  West  Point 
makes  his  head-quarters  at  house  of, 
163 

Moore's  Creek,  battle  of,  35 

Morgan,  Capt.  Daniel  (afterward  Gen 
eral),  13  ;  commands  the  riflemen  in 
detachment  to  penetrate  into  Canada, 
16  ;  gains  a  victory  over  Col.  Tarleton, 
206 

Morris,  Gouverneur,  6 

Morris,  James,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  Whitpain,  at  house  of,  100 

Morris,  Robert,  elected  Superintendent 
of  Finance,  206 ;  supplies  the  army 
with  flour,  223 ;  in  camp  at  Phillips- 
burg,  230 ;  raises  money  to  pay  the 
troops,  234,  235;  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  Philadelphia, 
236;  Washington  accepts  an  invita 


tion  to  dine  with,  on  Christmas  day, 
1781,  253 

Morris,  Roger,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  37,  51,  57 

Morristown,  situation  of  the  army  for 
want  of  supplies  at,  169,  171 ;  severe 
weather  at,  in  1780, 171-175;  mutiny 
among  the  Penna.  troops  at,  203 

Mortier  House,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  the,  37 

Mott's  Tavern,  Harlem  Plains,  Washing 
ton  at,  50 

Moultrie,  Col.  William,  46 

Mowatt,  Lieut.,  19 

Murray,  Robert,  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  50 

Nash,  Genl.  Francis,  burial-place  of,  97 ; 
funeral  of,  97 

Navy,  formation  of  a,  21 

"New  Building,"  location  of,  288; 
Washington's  appeal  to  the  officers  of 
the  army  read  at  the,  288,  290 

Newburgh,  Washington  receives  and 
answers  an  address  from  the  officers 
of  the  army  at,  298 

"Newburgh  Addresses,"  Major  John 
Armstrong  author  of,  290 

New  Haven,  the  British  enter  the  town, 
plunder  it,  and  burn  the  public  stores, 
161 

New  Jersey,  State  of,  evacuated  by  Genl. 
Howe,  75 ;  mutiny  among  the  troops 
of,  in  1781,  205 

Newport,  evacuated  by  the  British,  167 ; 
Washington's  birthday  celebrated  at, 
February,  1781,  207;  Washington's 
reception  at,  209  ;  receives  and  an 
swers  an  address  from  the  inhabitants 
of,  209 

New  York,  Provincial  Congress  of, 
Washington  receives  and  answers  an 
address  from  the,  7  ;  entertains  Wash 
ington  and  his  suite,  40  ;  fire  in,  61 ; 
the  British  evacuate,  313;  Washing 
ton's  entry  into,  313 ;  Washington 
receives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  citizens  of,  313 

Nicola,  Col.  Lewis,  letter  of,  to  Wash 
ington,  263 

Nook's  Hill,  fortified  by  the  Americans, 
32 

Norfolk,  destruction  of,  27,  28 

North,  Lord,  Conciliatory  Bills  of,  126, 
127 

Norwalk,  burnt  by  the  British,  162 

Odell  House,  Rochambeau's  head 
quarters  at  the,  226 

Old  Congregational  Church,  Cambridge, 
location  of,  22 


INDEX. 


329 


Orangetown,  see  Tappan 
Oriskany,  battle  of,  83 
Oswald,  Richard,  286 

Paine,  Thomas,  influence  of  his  pam 
phlet  "  Common  Sense,"  27  ;  quota 
tion  from  his  "  American  Crisis,"  59  ; 
letter  from,  to  Washington,  276 

Palfrey,  William,  36 

Parker,  Sir  Peter,  46 

Peace,  general  treaty  of,  271,  292  ;  pre 
liminary  treaty  of,  286,  291,  294; 
definitive  treaty  of,  286,  307 

Peale,  Charles  Willson,  Washington 
consents  to  sit  to,  for  his  portrait, 
150 ;  exhibits  a  number  of  trans 
parent  scenes  at  his  house  in  honor 
of  Washington's  arrival  in  Philadel 
phia,  251;  Washington  is  requested 
to  sit  for  his  portrait  to,  for  the  Col 
lege  of  New  Jersey,  305 

Pennsylvania  troops,  mutiny  among 
the,  203,  302 

Pennsylvania,  Washington  receives  and 
answers  addresses  from  the  Supreme 
Executive  Council  of,  252,  317;  from 
the  House  of  Assembly  of,  252,  316 

Pennybacker,  Samuel,  Washington 
makes  his  head-quarters  at  house  of, 
93 

Peters,  Richard,  in  camp  at  Phillips- 
burg,  230 

Philadelphia,  Lord  Cornwallis  takes 
possession  of,  92 ;  the  British  in  full 
possession  of,  106 ;  the  British  evacu 
ate,  132;  banquet  given  by  Congress 
at,  to  celebrate  the  French  alliance, 
150;  Washington  receives  and  an 
swers  addresses  from  the  magistrates 
of,  252,  317  ;  from  the  merchants  of, 
316;  from  the  officers  of  the  militia 
of,  317 ;  from  the  clergy,  gentle 
men  of  the  law,  and  physicians  of, 
317 

Plowed  Hill,  Americans  take  possession 
of,  16 

Pluckamin,  the  anniversary  of  the  al 
liance  with  France  celebrated  at,  151, 
152 

Pompton,  mutiny  of  the  New  Jersey 
troops  stationed  at,  205 

Poor,  Genl.  Enoch,  account  of  funeral 
of,  187,  188 

Portsmonth,  Va.,  the  town  of,  sacked  by 
the  British,  168 

Potts,  Isaac,  house  of,  at  Valley  Forge, 
used  by  Washington  as  his  head 
quarters,  111 

Potts,  John,  Washington  makes  his 
head-quarters  at  house  of,  92 

Powder,  scarcity  of,  14,  15, 16,  22;  Capt. 


Whipple  ordered  to  Bermuda  to  cap 
ture  a  magazine  of,  20 

Powel  House,  location  of,  149 

Powel,  Mrs.  Samuel,  149 

Powles  Hook,  surprise  and  capture  of, 
by  the  Americans,  165 

Prescott,  Genl.  Richard,  exchanged  for 
Genl.  Lee,  124 

Prince  William  Henry  (afterward  Wil 
liam  IV.),  Washington  authorizes  an 
attempt  to  capture,  259 

Princeton,  battle  of,  66 

Profanity,  Washington's  views  concern 
ing,  and  orders  against,  46,  164 

Providence,  reception  to  Washington  at, 
211 

Public  virtue,  Washington  laments  the 
decay  of,  148,  154,  156 

Quakers,  see  Friends 
Quesnay,  Alexander,  254 
Quibbletown,  N.  J.,  74 

Ramapo,  N.  J.,  location  of,  79,  181 

Ramsay,  William,  Washington  receives 
and  answers  an  address  from,  248 

Red  Bank,  N.  J.,  battle  of,  100 

Reed,  Joseph,  6,  118,  145,  203 

Reed,  Mrs.  Joseph,  204 

Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church  of 
Albany,  Washington  receives  and  an 
swers  an  address  from,  266 

Reidesel,  Baron,  44 

Religious  services,  chaplains  directed  to 
perform,  every  Sunday,  74 ;  Washing 
ton's  orders  concerning,  128  ;  Wash 
ington  attends,  at  Wethersfield,  220  ; 
Washington  recommends  the  troops  to 
attend,  after  the  surrender  of  York- 
town,  246 ;  Washington  attends,  at 
Bethlehem,  Pa.,  269 ;  ordered  to  be 
performed  every  Sunday  at  the  "  New 
Building,"  New  Windsor,  288  ;  Wash 
ington's  views  concerning  the  effect 
of  regular,  upon  the  army,  292 

Revolution,  the,  not  premeditated  in  the 
beginning,  301 

Rhode  Island,  taken  possession  of  by  the 
British,  67;  Genl.  Sullivan  evacuates, 
67;  evacuated  by  the  British,  16"; 
the  French  fleet  and  army  at,  183 

Ribbons,  to  be  worn  by  the  general  offi 
cers,  in  order  to  distinguish  them,  11 

Riflemen,  companies  of,  to  be  raised, 
13 

Ring,  Benjamin,  AVasbington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  at  Chadd's  Ford, 
88 

Ringwood,  N.  J.,  location  of,  159 

Robin,  Abb6,  opinion  of  Washington  by, 


330 


INDEX. 


230;  opinion  of  Lafayette  by,  236, 
237 

Robinson  House,  Washington  visits  the 
hospital  at  the,  142;  Masonic  cele 
bration  at  the,  160;  location  of,  184; 
the  head-quarters  of  Arnold  at  the 
time  he  commanded  West  Point,  184, 
189 

Rochambeau,  Count  de,  arrives  at  New 
port,  182 ;  in  conference  with  Wash 
ington  at  Hartford,  189,  190;  Wash 
ington  attends  a  ball  given  by,  at 
Newport,  209  ;  Washington  at  Weth- 
ersfield  arranges  with,  a  plan  of  cam 
paign,  220 ;  Washington  visits,  at 
North  Castle,  226 ;  cannon  captured 
at  Yorktown,  presented  to,  257 ;  at 
Philadelphia,  237,  268  ;  at  Verplanck's 
Point,  275 ;  at  Newburgh,  284 ;  re 
turns  to  France,  284 

Rodney,  Admiral,  arrives  from  the  West 
Indies  with  ten  ships,  194 

Saint  Patrick,  the  Society  of  the 
Friendly  Sons  of,  see  Society 

Saratoga,  Washington  visits,  266,  302 

Saratoga  Springs,  Washington  proposes 
to  purchase,  303 

Savannah,  capture  of,  by  the  British, 
153;  the  British  evacuate,  272 

Schenectady,  Washington's  reception  at, 
266,  267 

Schuyler,  Genl.  Philip,  6 ;  takes  com 
mand  of  the  N.  Y.  department,  7; 
transfers  his  command  to  Genl.  Rich 
ard  Montgomery,  15 ;  Washington 
congratulates,  on  his  acquittal  of  the 
charge  of  neglect  of  duty,  146 

Schuylkill  Falls,  Pa.,  Lafayette's  ac 
count  of  the  review  of  the  troops  at, 
82 

Segur,  Count  de,  description  of  Wash 
ington  by,  278 

Selman,  Captain,  commands  the  "  Frank 
lin,"  21 

Shaw,  Capt.  Nathaniel,  Washington 
sleeps  at  house  of,  36 

Silly,  Chevalier  de,  notice  of  Washing 
ton  by,  210 

Simitiere,  Pierre  Eugene  du,  Washing 
ton  sits  to,  for  his  portrait,  150 

Small-pox,  in  Boston,  33 ;  measures 
taken  to  prevent  the  spread  of,  among 
the  soldiers,  71 

Smith,  Joshua  Hett,  capture  of,  192; 
sketch  of,  192;  Washington's  head 
quarters  at  house  of,  233 

Smith,  Melancthon,  6 

"Society  of  the  Friendly  Sons  of  St. 
Patrick,"  the,  entertain  Washington 
at  a  dinner,  254 


Somerset  County,  N.  J.,  Washington  re 
ceives  and  answers  an  address  from 
the  officers  of  the  militia  of,  309 

South  Carolina,  embarkation  of  troops 
for  the  invasion  of,  175 ;  the  British 
evacuate  all  posts  in,  255 

Springfield,  N.  J.,  burned  by  the  Brit 
ish,  180 

Spurious  letters,  attributed  to  Wash 
ington,  130,  131 

Staten  Island,  Genl.  Howe  lands  on,  34, 
43  ;  Genl.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  lands  on, 
46 ;  Lord  Cornwallis  lands  on,  46 ; 
Washington  makes  preparations  to 
attack,  172 

Steenrapie,  the  American  army  en 
camps  at,  186 

Stenton,  Washington  makes  his  head 
quarters  at,  85 

Steuben,  Baron,  arrival  of,  in  camp, 
120 ;  appointed  inspector-general  of 
the  American  army,  123 ;  description 
of  the  army  at  Valley  Forge  by, 
123 

Stillwater,  battle  of,  93 ;  second  battle 
of,  98 

Stockton,  Mrs.  Richard,  269 

Stonington,  bombarded,  19 

Stony  Point,  Washington  advises  Genl. 
Wayne  to  attack,  162 ;  taken  by  Genl. 
Wayne,  162,  163 

Suffolk,  Va.,  the  town  of,  burned  by  the 
British,  158 

Sullivan,  Genl.  John,  arrives  with  the 
army  at  Crown  Point,  43 ;  succeeds 
Genl.  Thomas,  44 ;  superseded  by  Genl. 
Gates,  44;  takes  command  upon  Long 
Island,  47;  marches  against  the  In 
dians,  158 

Swearing,  see  Profanity 

Tappan,  location  of,  186 

Ternay,  Admiral  de,  in  conference  with 
Washington  at  Hartford,  189 

Thacher,  Dr.  James,  description  of 
Washington  at  Cambridge  by,  12 ;  de 
scribes  Washington  when  on  a  visit  to 
the  hospital  at  the  "  Robinson  House," 
142;  pen  portrait  of,  by,  152,  153 

Thomas,  Genl.  John,  arrives  at  camp 
near  Quebec,  44  ;  dies  of  small-pox  at 
Chamblee,  44 

Thompson,  Col.  William  (afterward  Gen 
eral),  13,  44 

Throck's  Point,  British  land  at,  52,  53 

Ticonderoga,  evacuation  of,  by  Genl.  St. 
Clair,  75,  76;  the  opinion  of  Wash 
ington  regarding  the,  77 

Trophies  of  war,  two  stands  of  colors 
taken  at  Yorktown,  presented  to 
Washington,  253  ;  cannon  captured  at 


INDEX. 


331 


Yorktown,  presented  to  Count  de  Ro- 

chambeau,  257,  285 
"True    American    Inn,"    Washington's 

head-quarters  at  Trenton,  64 
Trumbull,    Governor    Jonathan,    meets 

and  dines  with  Washington,  36 
Tryon,  Governor  William,  41,  72 
Turkey  Point,  British,  under  Sir  William 

Howe,  land  at,  86 

Uniforms  for  the  troops  of  the  different 
States  prescribed,  166;  for  the  com 
missioned  officers,  prescribed  179 

Union,  Federal,  importance  of  a,  293, 
298,  301 

University  of  Pennsylvania,  Washing 
ton  receives  and  answers  addresses 
from  the,  252,  317 ;  attends  a  com 
mencement  of  the,  258 

Valcour  Island,  Lake  Champlain,  Sir 
Guy  Carleton  attacks  General  Arnold 
at,  54 

Valley  Forge  determined  upon  for  win 
ter-quarters,  107 ;  Washington's  direc 
tions  for  building  huts  at,  110;  loca 
tion  of,  111 ;  condition  of  the  troops  at, 
112,  113,  114,  118,  119 

Van  Berckel,  Peter  John,  received  as 
minister  from  the  United  Netherlands, 
307 

Van  Cortlandt  House,  near  Peekskill, 
occupied  by  Washington  as  his  head 
quarters,  223 

Van  Doren,  John,  Washington  and  his 
staff  at  house  of,  66 

Vassall,  John,  Washington's  head-quar 
ters  at  house  of,  9 

Vaudreuil,  Marquis  de,  arrival  of,  at 
Boston,  271 ;  sails  from  Boston,  271 

Verplanck's  Point,  the  allied  armies  at, 
273 ;  Prince  de  Broglie's  description 
of  the  American  army  at,  277 

Viomenil,  Baron  de,  244;  sails  with  the 
French  army  from  Boston,  284 

Wadsworth,  Col.  Jeremiah,  elected  com 
missary-general,  115;  Washington 
writes  to  the  President  of  Congress  in 
reference  to,  140;  receives  Washing 
ton  and  his  suite  at  Hartford,  Conn., 
189,  190 

Wallace  House,  Middlebrook,  N.  J., 
Washington's  head-quarters  at  the,  146 

Walnut  Grove,  head-quarters  of  Wash 
ington,  109 

Walpole,  Horace,  opinion  of  Washing 
ton  by,  66 

Wampole,  Frederick,  Washington's 
head-quarters  at  Towamencin,  at  the 
farm-house  of,  97 


War,  duration  of  the,  attributed  to  tem 
porary  enlistments,  195 
Ward,  Genl.  Artemas,  at  Roxbury,  12 ; 

resignation  of,  24 
Warwick  Furnace,  location  of,  91 
Washington,  General  George, 
at  Acquackanoc,  57 
"  Albany,  265-267,  302 
"  Alexandria,  248 

"  Amboy,  39,  45 

"  Annapolis,  249,  250,  319-321 

"  Applehy  Place,  226 

"  Arnold's  Tavern,  67 
"  Ballston,  302 

'  Baltimore,  238,  250,  318 

'  Barclay's  (Bucks  Co.,  Pa.),  61 

'  Barney's  Ferry,  209 

'  Beaumont's,  Pa.,  63 

'  Beers,  Isaac,  house  of,  7 

'  Berkeley's  (Bucks  Co.,  Pa.),  60 

'  Berrien  House,  304,  306 

'  Bethlehem,  269,  270 

'  Billingsport,  N.  J.,  80 

'  Birdsall  House,  185 

'  Boston,  32-34 

'  Bowen,  Jabez,  house  of,  212 

'  Brandywine,  88 

'  Brinckerhoff  House,  141 

'  Bristol,  R.  I.,  210 

'  Brookfield,  8 

'  Brooklyn,  48 

'  Buck  Tavern,  89 

'  Bull's  Head  Tavern,  312 

'  Burlington,  N.  J.,  258 

'  Cambridge,  8-24,  25-36 

'  Cape's  Tavern,  313,  314 

'  Chadd's  Ford,  Pa.,  83 

'  Chatham,  N.  J.,  234 

'  Chester,  Pa.,  80,  88 

'  Chew  House,  251 

'  City  Tavern,  Phila.,  5,  236,  254, 
317 

"  Clove,  the,  76,  78,  159,  160 

"  Cornell's  Ferry,  79,  133 

"  Craigie  House,  9 

'  Cranberry,  N.  J.,  134 

'  Cross  Roads,  Pa.,  83 

'  Crown  Point,  302 

'  Day's  Tavern,  311,  312 

'  Deane,  Silas,  house  of,  81 

'  De  Wint  House,  186,  310 

'  Dey  House,  181,  194 

'  Dobbs'  Ferry,  225,  279,  280,  295, 
296 

"  Dorchester  Heights,  31 

"  Doylestown,  132 

"  Easton,  270 

"  Elizabethtown,  N.  J.,  145 

"  Ellison  House,  160,  200 

"  Eltham,  Va.,  247 

"  Emlen  House,  103 


332 


INDEX. 


Washington,  General  George, 

at  Englishtown,  N.  J.,  135,  136 
"  Esopus,  283 
"  Farmington,  219,  221 
"  Fishkill,  141,  142,  191 
"  Flemington,  N.  J.,  199 
"  Ford  House,  169 
"  Fort  Edward,  302 
"  Fort  Lee,  45,  56,  57 
"  Fort  Mercer,  80 
"  Fort  Mifflin,  80 
"  Fort  Montgomery,  55,  162 
'  Fort  Schuyler,  302 
'  Fort  Stanwix,  302 
'  Frankford,  Pa.,  252,  316 
'  Fraunce's  Tavern,  313,  315 
'  Fredericksburg,  N.  Y.,  140,  141, 

143,  144 

'  Frederieksburg,  Va.,  247 
'  Galloway's,  N.  Y.,  78 
'  Germantown,  95,  104 
'  Gulf  Mill,  109,  110 
'  Hackensa.ck,  56,  57,  187 
'  Hackettstown,  199 
'  Harlem,  311,  312 
'  Harlem  Heights,  50,  51,  52 
'  Harris,  John,  house  of,  64 
'  Hartford,  189,  190,  208,  212 
'  Hasbrouck  House,  260,  281,  283 
'  Haverstraw,  N.  Y.,  138,  139 
'  Head  of  Elk,  Md.,  238 
'  High  Rock  Spring,  303 
'  Hill,  Henry,  house  of,  81 
'  Hope,  N.  J.,  270 
"  Hopewell,  N.  J.,  133 
"  Hopper  House,  187-189 
"  Huntington,  Jedediah,  house  of, 

36 

"  Keith  House,  61,  62,  63 
"  Kingsbridge,  7,  41,  51,  53,  228, 

229 

"  King's  Ferry,  56,  138,  233,  234 
"  Kingston,  N.  J.,  66,  134 
"  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  282 
"  Kip's  Bay,  50 
"  Lake  George,  302 
"  Lebanon,  Conn.,  208 
"  Lechmere's  Point,  22,  23 
"  Leiperville,  Pa.,  89 
"  Levering's  Ford,  89 
"  Liberty  Pole  Tavern,  186 
"  Lispenard,  Col.,  country-seat  of,  6 
"  Litchfield,  Conn.,  191,  219,  221 
"  Livingston,    Van    Brugh,    house 

of,  295 

"  Lyme,  Conn.,  36 
"  McCurdy,  John,  house  of,  36 
"  Mcllvain,  John,  house  of,  89 
"  McKonkey's  Ferry,  63 
"  Malin,  Joseph,  house  of,  90 
"  Marcus  Hook,  80 


Washington,  General  George, 
at  Marlborough,  Mass.,  8 
"  Matson's  Ford,  89,  108 
"  Methacton  Hill,  94 
"  Middlebrook,      73-75,     145-147, 

151-159 

"  Miller  House,  54 
"  Monmouth  Court-House,  135 
"  Moore's  House,  163 
"  Morgan's  Tavern,  219 
"  Morris,  James,  house  of,  100 
"  Morris,  Robert,  house  of,  236 
"  Morris,  Roger,  house  of,  37,  51, 

57 
"  Morristown,  66-73,  75,  170-178, 

199,  258,  259 

"  Mortier  House,  37 

"  Mott's  Tavern,  50 

"  Mount  Vernon,  239,  248 

"  Murray,  Robert,  house  of,  50 

"  Neshaminy  Camp,  82-84 

"  Newark,  N.  J.,  6,  57 

"  New  Brunswick,  6,  58,  136,  235 

"  Newburgh,    259-265,    267,    268, 

270-272,  281-303 
"  New  Germantown,  N.  J.,  131 
"  New  Haven,  7,  36 
"  New  London,  36 
"  Newport,  Del.,  87,  88 
"  Newport,  R.  I.,  208-210 
"  New  Rochelle,  7 
"  Newtown,  Pa.,  64 
"New   Windsor,   N.  Y.,   160-163, 

200,  201,    203-208,    212-219, 
221   222 

"  New  'York,   6,   7,  36-38,  40-47, 

49,  312-315 
"  Nicetown,  Pa.,  85 
"  North  Castle,  N.  Y.,  54,  226 
"  Norwich,  Conn.,  36 
"  Orangetown,  186,  295,  310 
"  Otsego  Lake,  302 
"  Paramus,   N.   J.,  137,  138,  145, 

193 

"  Parker's  Ford,  91 
"  Patterson,  N.  Y.,  140 
"  Peekskill,  55,  56,  169,  184,  185, 

188,  223,  224 

"  Pennybacker's  Mills,  91,  93^97 
"  Pennybacker,  Samuel,  house  of, 

93 

"  Perkiomen  Creek,  91 
"  Philadelphia,  1-5,  39,  40,  80,  81, 

85,  147-151,  235-237,  250-258, 

268,  269,  316,  317 
"  Phillipsburg,  225-232,  279 
"  Pluckamin,  N.  J.,  66,  151 
"  Point  of  Rocks,  N.  Y.,  50 
"  Pompton,  N.  J.,  76,  259 
"  Pottsgrove    (Pottstown),   91-9J, 

269 


INDEX. 


333 


Washington,  General  George, 
at  Potts,  Isaac,  house  of,  111 
"  Potts  Mansion,  92 
"  Poughkeepsie,  283,  234,  297 
"  Powel,  Mrs.,  house  of,  149 
"  Preakness,  N.  J.,  181-183,  194- 

199 

"  Princeton,  58,  65,  304-307 
"  Providence,  R.  I.,  36,  210,  211 
"  Quibbletown,  N.  J.,  74 
"  Ramapo,  N.  J.,  78,  79,  180 
"  Reading,  N.  J.,  79 
"  Red  Lion  Tavern,  90 
"  Richmond  Hill,  37 
"  Ring,  Benjamin,  house  of,  88 
"  Ringwood,  N.  J.,  159,  205,  259, 

295 
"  Robinson  House,  142,  160,  184. 

191,  192 

"  Rocky  Hill,  N.  J.,  304-309 
"  Roxbury,  9,  11,  21,  32 
"  Saratoga,  266,  302 
"  Saratoga  Springs,  303 
"  Schenectady,  266,  302 
"  Schuylkill  Falls,  Pa.,  81,  82,  89 
"  Schwenksville,  Pa.,  93 
"  Shaw,  Capt.  Nathaniel,  house  of, 

36 

"  Skippack,  Pa.,  94 
"  Smith,  Joshua  Hett,  house  of,  233 
"  Smith's  Tavern,  159,  160 
"  Somerset  Court-House,  66 
"  Springfield,  Mass.,  8 
"  Springfield,  N.  J.,  179,  180 
"  Staten  Island,  38,  39 
"  Stenton,  homestead  of  the  Logan 

family,  85 

"  Suffern's  Tavern,  77 
"  Sussex  Court-House,  199,  270 
"  Swede's  Ford,  108 
"  Tappan,  185,  192,  193,  295,  310 
"  Teaneck,  N.  J.,  186 
"  Ticonderoga,  302 
"  Towamencin,  Pa.,  95,  97,  98 
"  Trenton,  4,  59,  60,  63,  64,  65,  235, 

316 
"  Trenton   Falls,  camp  above,  62, 

63 

"  "True  American  Inn,"  64 
"  Valentine's    Hill,    53,   224,  225, 

228 

"  Valley  Forge,  110-132 
"  Van  Cortlandt  House,  223 
"  Van  Doren,  John,  house  of,  66 
"  Vassall,  John,  house  of,  9 
"  Vernon,  William,  house  of,  210 
"  Verplanck's  Point,  273-280 
"  Wadsworth,  Col.  Jeremiah,  house 

of,  189 

"  Wallace  House,  146 
"  Walnut  Grove,  109 


Washington,  General  George, 

at  Wampole,  Frederick,  at  house  of, 

97 

"  Warren  Tavern,  90 
"  Warwick  Furnace,  91 
"  Watertown,  Mass.,  8 
"  Webb  House,  Wethersfield,  219 
"  Wentz,  Peter,  house  of,  98 
"  West  Point,  138,  140,  160,  163- 
168,  200,   202,   203,    204,  214, 
216,  218,   233,   260,   264,  281, 
304,  310 

"  Wethersfield,  8,  219-221 
"  Whippany,  N.  J.,  180 
"  White  Horse  Tavern,  90 
"  Whitemarsh,  Pa.,  103-108 
"  White  Plains,  53-55,  139,  140 
"  Whitpain,  Pa.,  99-102 
"  Williamsburg,  Va.,  239 
"  Wilmington,  Del.,  85-87,  318 
"  Wolcott,  Oliver,  at  house  of,  191 
"  Wood  Creek,  302 
"  Worcester,  Mass.,  8 
"  Worcester,  Pa.,  95,  98,  99 
"  Wynkoop,  Col.  Cornelius,  house 

of,  282 

"  Wythe  House,  240 
"  Yellow  Springs,  Pa  ,  90 
"  Yorktown,  241-247 
"  Zabriskie,  Peter,  house  of,  56 
Washington,  General  George,  elected 
commander-in-chief  of  the  American 
forces,  1 ;  receives  his  commission,  3 ; 
ill  at  Morristown,  in  1777,  71 ;  forged 
letters  of,  130, 131 ;  views  of,  concern 
ing  the  times  and  men  in  1778,  148; 
birthday  of,  celebrated  at  Newport, 
February,  1781,  207;  "Father  of  his 
Country,"  earliest  application  of  the 
epithet  to,  211 ;  parties  sent  out  to  take 
or  assassinate,  215;  issues  a  circular 
letter  to  the  governors  of  the  several 
States,  298  ;  issues  his  farewell  address 
to  the  armies  of  the  United  States, 
308 ;  description  of  the  horse  and  sad 
dle  of,  309  ;  resigns  his  commission  to 
Congress,  320,  321 

Washington,  Mrs.,  letter  from  General 
Washington  to,  regarding  his  ap 
pointment  as  oommander-in- 
chief,  3 

at  Baltimore,  250 
"  Cambridge,  22 
"  Middlebrook,  152,  153,  155 
"  Morristown,  259 
"  Newburgh,  259,  283 
"  New  Windsor,  200,  223 
"  New  York,  37,  42 
"  Philadelphia,  40,  149,  151,  250, 

252,  253 
"  Pluokamin,  152 


334 


INDEX. 


Washington,  Mrs., 
at  Pompton,  259  ' 
"  Ringwood,  259 
"  Rocky  Hill,  307 
"  Valley  Forge,  121 

Washington,  Lund,  Washington  disap 
proves  the  action  of,  in  furnishing 
the  enemy  with  provisions,  216 

Watson,  Elkanah,  account  of  a  visit  to 
Valley  Forge  by,  125 

Wayne,  Genl.  Anthony,  court-martial 
on,  held  at  Whitpain,  102;  takes 
Stony  Point,  162,  163 

Webb,  Joseph,  Washington  lodges  at 
house  of,  at  Wethersfield,  219 

Wentz,  Peter,  Washington's  head-quar 
ters  at  house  of,  at  Worcester,  98 

West  Point,  first  notice  taken  of,  55; 
fortifications  to  be  erected  at,  117 

Whipple,  Capt.  Abraham,  ordered  to 
Bermuda  to  capture  a  magazine  of 
powder,  20 ;  appointed  by  the  R.  Is. 
Assembly  to  command  a  vessel,  21 

Whipple,  Christopher,  appointed  by  the 
R.  Is.  Assembly  to  command  a  vessel, 
21 

White  Plains,  battle  of,  54 

William  and  Mary   College,  Williams- 


burg,  Washington  receives  and  an 
swers  an  address  from,  247 

Wilmington,  Del.,  Washington  receives 
and  answers  an  address  from  the  in 
habitants  of,  318 

Wilmington,  N.  C.,  evacuated  by  the 
British,  255 

Wolcott,  Genl.  Oliver,  entertains  Genl. 
Washington,  191 

Wooster,  Genl.  David,  7;  relieves 
Arnold  at  Quebec,  44 ;  death  of,  72 

Wynkoop,  Col.  Cornelius,  Washington 
passes  the  night  with,  282 

Wythe  House,  Washington's  head-quar 
ters  at  Williamsburg,  240 

Yale  College,  Washington  reviews  a 
military  company  of  students  of,  7 ; 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  conferred  on 
Washington  by,  218 

Yorktown,  Washington  on  the  march  to, 
240 ;  siege  of,  241-245  ;  surrender  of, 
245,  246;  strength  of  the  combined 
army  at,  247 

Zabriskie,  Peter,  Washington  at  bouse 
of,  56 


THE   END. 


PRINTED  BY  J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OP  25  CENTS 


M15795 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


